Police have informed the Kunnamangalam court that Simjitha Musthafa, a resident of Vadakara, recorded seven videos of Govindapuram native U Deepak while travelling on a private bus. According to the police, these recordings later became a key factor in the chain of events that led to Deepak’s death. The investigation has found that the videos were taken during a routine bus journey and were later circulated widely, setting off serious consequences.

Musthafa was taken into custody on Wednesday, 21st January, on charges of abetment of suicide, as mentioned in the remand report submitted by the police before the court. The report states that the case is being treated with seriousness due to the direct link between the circulation of the videos and the mental state of the deceased.

As per the remand report, Deepak died by suicide after undergoing severe mental stress following the spread of the videos on social media platforms. Police said that the repeated sharing and discussion of the visuals caused him extreme emotional pain. Investigators noted that Deepak feared society would begin to view him as a sexual offender, a label that deeply disturbed him and affected his mental health.

A few days before his death, Musthafa had uploaded one of the videos online, alleging that Deepak had behaved inappropriately with her during the bus journey. This claim gained attention quickly and became a subject of public debate, adding to the pressure faced by Deepak.

Police said they closely examined CCTV footage from the private bus where the videos were recorded. According to the findings, the footage clearly showed Deepak and Musthafa boarding the bus separately. During the journey, there was no sign of any unusual or inappropriate behaviour. The visuals further showed that both passengers got down from the bus calmly, without any argument or disturbance.

Statements recorded from the bus crew supported the CCTV findings. Members of the staff told the police that they did not observe any incident of sexual misconduct during the journey. They also stated that there was no issue or complaint raised when the two passengers alighted from the bus.

The remand report highlighted that despite claiming she had a troubling experience during the bus ride, Musthafa did not lodge any complaint with either the Vadakara police station or the Payyannur police station. Police also mentioned that her mobile phone needs to undergo a detailed forensic examination. This analysis is expected to help investigators recover her deleted Instagram and Facebook accounts, which could provide crucial evidence in the case.

Investigators have not yet recorded statements from other passengers who were travelling on the bus, named Al Ameen, at the time of the incident. Police said that these statements will be important for understanding the full context of what happened during the journey and for moving the investigation forward.

The report also noted that Musthafa is well educated and holds a postgraduate degree. She had earlier served as a member of the Areekode panchayat. Police stated that she was fully aware that publicly sharing such videos could cause serious mental harm and might push a person towards taking an extreme step.

The video that was shared online spread rapidly and went viral, crossing two million views within just two days. Following Deepak’s death, his mother, K Kanyaka, approached the district police chief with a formal complaint. She stated that her son died due to intense mental trauma caused by false allegations made against him and the public shaming that followed.

Police said that when they initially tried to contact Musthafa for questioning, she went into hiding. She was later traced and arrested from a relative’s house. The investigation into the case is still ongoing.

It is notable that Simjitha’s videos, which portrayed Deepak as a sexual offender and eventually led to his suicide, have sparked widespread discussion across social media in Kerala. Many users have been sharing memes and comments questioning how men are expected to travel in crowded buses if accidental contact, such as brushing an elbow, can lead to serious accusations. Observers also pointed out that in Simjitha’s video, she was initially standing a couple of feet away from Deepak in the crowded bus. In a later clip, she appeared to have moved forward and recorded the video from a different angle, a detail that has further fueled public debate around the incident.