In Kerala, a 42-year-old man named U Deepak died by suicide after influencer Shimjitha Musthafa posted a viral video accusing him of sexually harassing her on a crowded bus, leading to his arrest on abetment to suicide charges. The video, which garnered over 20 lakh views, depicted Musthafa claiming Deepak deliberately touched her without consent despite being recorded, sparking widespread online outrage and public shaming that Deepak’s family says left him humiliated and unable to eat, even on his birthday. Police registered the case following a complaint from Deepak’s mother, who described her innocent son as shattered by the accusations, while the Kerala State Human Rights Commission ordered a probe.
Incident Details
Deepak, a sales manager from Govindapuram in Kozhikode, was traveling on the bus when Musthafa filmed him, later alleging the touch was intentional and not accidental due to crowding. Two days after the video exploded on social media on January 18, 2026, his parents found him hanging in his home; he reportedly left a note blaming baseless targeting. Musthafa deleted the video, posted a defense that she later made private, and went absconding briefly before her arrest on January 21. Deepak’s family insists the contact was inadvertent in the packed bus and accuses Musthafa of character assassination for publicity.
Social Media Trials’ Impact
Social media platforms amplify unverified accusations into instant trials, where viral videos bypass due process and brand individuals as guilty before investigation. In Deepak’s case, the clip triggered massive trolling and cyberbullying, pushing him to despair without opportunity for defense, highlighting how online mobs deliver irreversible reputational damage. Sensationalism thrives on such content, as creators exploit harassment narratives for views, often prioritizing outrage over facts, which erodes public trust in digital testimony.
Toxic Feminism and Innocent Men
Elements of toxic feminism contribute by framing all male-female interactions suspiciously, demanding immediate accountability without evidence and portraying men as inherent predators. This ideology, when mixed with social media, vilifies men like Deepak as symbols of patriarchy, ignoring context like crowded public transport and leading to fragile outcomes when egos clash with public scorn. Men’s rights groups criticized Musthafa for defaming an innocent man, arguing such one-sided narratives under the guise of empowerment harm families and fuel gender antagonism.
Similar Cases in Bharat
The Deepak tragedy in Kerala serves as a stark warning for Bharat, where unchecked social media trials, fueled by sensationalism and strands of toxic feminism, continue to shatter innocent men’s lives without remorse or recourse. From viral videos that convict before courts can convene to retracted accusations that leave indelible scars on families, these patterns demand urgent reforms—stricter penalties for abetment through falsehoods, platforms compelled to verify before amplifying, and a cultural shift away from gendered vigilantism that equates suspicion with guilt. Only through balanced accountability can Bharat safeguard justice for all, ensuring no more lives are lost to digital lynch mobs masquerading as empowerment.
