Viral Bus Video, Allegation and Tragic End: Kerala Man Dies, Social Media Trial

A 42-year-old man, identified as U Deepak, died by suicide in Kerala on Sunday, January 18, days after he was accused of inappropriately touching a woman inside a crowded bus. His death has triggered widespread outrage and debate over social media accountability and alleged misuse of public platforms.

Deepak, a native of Kozhikode and an employee at a textile firm, was travelling to Kannur for work on January 16 when the incident occurred on a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus. A woman passenger, Shimjitha, later posted a video on social media alleging sexual harassment. The video soon went viral.

In the clip, Deepak’s elbow is seen brushing against the woman while the bus appears crowded. While Shimjitha described the act as a “sexual boundary violation”, many social media users argued that the contact appeared accidental due to overcrowding.

Shimjitha, who describes herself on social media as a consultant psychologist and commerce lecturer, stated that the act was intentional. Speaking to Asianet News, she claimed she began recording after noticing another woman feeling uncomfortable around Deepak. She alleged that when the bus became less crowded near the bus stand, he deliberately grazed her while getting down. She maintained that her allegation was genuine and said she did not anticipate that Deepak would die by suicide.

Deepak was found dead in his room on Sunday morning. His family and friends alleged that he was under severe mental stress after the video circulated widely online. A person close to the family said the viral video deeply affected him and appealed to people not to post or share such content without verifying facts.

The incident has sparked strong reactions from men’s rights activists and commentators, many of whom criticised the public naming and shaming on social media. Men’s rights activist and television commentator Rahul Easwar demanded police action in the matter, stating that Deepak was the sole breadwinner of his family and that such cases highlight the need for safeguards against false accusations.

He, along with several men’s rights groups, renewed demands for a men’s rights commission to address issues such as alleged false sexual harassment cases and the impact of social media trials on individuals’ lives.

Police have not yet issued an official statement on any legal action related to the video or the allegations. The case continues to draw national attention, raising questions about due process, online conduct and the psychological impact of viral accusations.