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Kerala Police Book Woman Over Viral Bus Video After Man’s Death, Rights Panel Orders Inquiry

The case has advanced to an abetment-to-suicide investigation with a parallel human-rights inquiry underway.

Overview

  • Kozhikode Medical College police registered an FIR on January 19 against Shimjitha Musthafa, 35, for abetment to suicide under BNS Section 108 after the death of U Deepak, 42.
  • Deepak was found dead at his Govindapuram residence on January 18, and police initially recorded a case of unnatural death with a preliminary finding of suspected suicide.
  • The Kerala State Human Rights Commission directed the North Zone DIG to conduct a high‑level probe and sought a report within a week, with the matter listed for February 19.
  • Investigators are collecting digital evidence and recording statements, including from the woman and Deepak’s family, to examine the sequence of events after the video circulated.
  • The 18‑second clip posted January 16 shows Deepak’s elbow brushing the woman in a crowded bus; she maintains it was intentional, relatives say he denied wrongdoing, and both sides faced online attacks as public reaction remained polarized.