A tragic case in Kerala has ignited a fierce debate about public shaming, mental health, and accountability in the age of viral social media content.
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| Deepak who lost life by sucide in kerala |
A man died by suicide after a video accusing him of groping on a crowded bus spread online, leading to police charging the poster with abetment to suicide.
The Viral Video and Conflicting Claims
On January 16, a bus in Kerala was packed with passengers. Psychologist Shimjitha Musthafa later posted a clip on Instagram, alleging a fellow passenger had deliberately groped her. The video, which showed a man's elbow brushing against her chest as the bus swayed, quickly garnered over 2 million views. Musthafa described the contact as a intentional violation.
The Viral Video is here:-
There is no fault of Deepak 😥
— Roots of History™ (@RootsofHistory) January 20, 2026
We can see in the video!
Women in Hijab doing this for engage farming on social media.
Justice for Deepak 💔 pic.twitter.com/eqaT6pf9mS
However, the family of the man, identified as Deepak, insisted the contact was purely accidental—an unavoidable incident in a jam-packed bus. They stated the viral fallout caused him immense mental stress. Tragically, Deepak died by suicide on January 18.
Legal Repercussions and a Wider Protest
Following a complaint by Deepak’s family, police charged Shimjitha Musthafa with abetment to suicide on January 20. Musthafa has maintained that the contact was intentional but has denied expecting or causing his death. She has since set her social media accounts to private.
The case has highlighted the intense tensions surrounding such accusations in India's crowded public transport. It has sparked a human rights probe into the incident's handling. In a poignant form of protest, some men in Kerala have begun using cardboard shields on buses to visibly distance themselves and avoid any potential for accidental contact or false accusations.
A Complex Conversation on Justice and Online Virality
This heartbreaking situation sits at a difficult crossroads. It underscores the serious, real-world trauma of sexual harassment in public spaces, which remains a pervasive issue. Simultaneously, it raises critical questions about the power of viral claims and trial by social media, where context can be lost and lives can be shattered before any formal legal process begins.
The case is not about undermining the importance of calling out misconduct. Rather, it's a sobering reminder of the weight of public accusation and the profound impact on mental health for all involved.
Finding a path that supports victims while ensuring fairness and due process is a complex but urgent societal challenge.
Justice for Deepak...
