The Kunnamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, rejected the bail plea of Shimjitha Musthafa. She faces charges of abetment to the suicide of 42-year-old salesman U. Deepak. Earlier this month, Shimjitha accused Deepak of sexual misconduct on a moving bus in Kannur. Magistrate M. Athira agreed with the prosecution that the investigation is ongoing. The court said releasing Shimjitha might lead to tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. Investigators must also get a forensic report from her mobile phone. The defence's arguments, including that Shimjitha did not know Deepak before, were dismissed. Deepak, from Govindapuram, died by suicide on January 18. This followed a video posted by Shimjitha, 35, a postgraduate and former panchayat member of the Indian Union Muslim League. The video claimed Deepak inappropriately touched her on a crowded bus in Payyannur, Kannur, two days before. The video went viral and sparked online harassment linked to Deepak’s death. Deepak’s family says the contact was accidental due to the rush. Bus workers stated no sexual harassment complaints were made during the journey. Shimjitha, a Vadakara native, had not filed a prior police complaint. After Deepak’s death, many, including family, friends, and men’s rights activists, expressed outrage and supported him. Kozhikode Medical College police arrested Shimjitha on January 21 from a relative’s house in Vadakara. An FIR was registered under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The remand report said Shimjitha secretly filmed and edited seven videos to humiliate Deepak, causing him mental distress. Before deleting her social media accounts, she removed the original video and uploaded a follow-up clip explaining why she shared it. After her arrest, Shimjitha filed a complaint by email on January 22, alleging sexual harassment during her bus trip in Payyannur on January 16. (Suicide Prevention Helpline: Disha - 1056, 0471-2552056)