Suicide of Deepak: Court denies bail to Shimjitha; to continue in remand

KOZHIKODE: The court rejected the bail plea of Shimjitha Musthafa, the accused in the case of a youth, who committed suicide after accusing him of sexually assaulting her on a bus and circulating the footage on social media. The Kunnamangalam First Class Magistrate Court rejected the bail plea. With this, the accused will continue in remand.

The court action upheld the arguments of the prosecution. The prosecution argued that the investigation in the case is at a preliminary stage and granting bail in this situation could influence witnesses. The police report had pointed that releasing the accused would affect the investigation as the statements of the bus staff and other passengers are to be recorded.

Deepak committed suicide after Shimjitha Musthafa circulated the footage on Instagram accusing him of sexually assaulting her on a private bus in Payyannur. The police had found that the video shared by Shimjitha was edited and shortened. The police have also collected the CCTV footage of the bus. The police have registered a case against the woman on the complaint of the mother of Deepak of Govindapuram, Kolangarakandi, Ullatthodi. The case carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a fine.