The Kunamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court has postponed its ruling on the bail application of Shimjitha Musthafa, accused in the case of suicide of 42-year-old U. Deepak to January 27 (Tuesday).
Magistrate M. Athira deferred the bail plea on Saturday after hearing the prosecution side in which the police opposed her release, citing the risk of witness tampering and the ongoing forensic analysis of her mobile phone for further investigation. The police has also requested for the custody of Ms. Musthafa for interrogation.
Deepak, a sales manager from Govindapuram, took his life on January 18 after viral videos posted by Ms. Musthafa, a postgraduate and former panchayat member of the Indian Union Muslim League, alleged that he had molested her on a crowded bus from Payyannur in Kannur two days earlier. The clips, viewed over two million times, sparked intense online harassment. His family claims the contact was accidental amid the rush, corroborated by bus CCTV footage and witness statements. No prior police complaint was lodged by Ms. Musthafa.
The Kozhikode Medical College police arrested Ms. Musthafa on January 21 in Vadakara after a manhunt, registering an FIR under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The remand report states that seven videos were secretly filmed and edited with an intent to humiliate Deepak, causing acute mental distress. Her social media accounts were deleted post-incident. She remains in a 14-day judicial custody at Manjeri Sub Jail.
Published – January 24, 2026 08:53 pm IST
