KOZHIKODE: Medical College police have intensified efforts to trace the woman booked for alleged abetment of suicide in connection with the death of Govindapuram native U Deepak. The case stems from a video she posted on social media accusing Deepak of sexually harassing her during a bus journey, which later went viral.
According to the police, the woman had filmed Deepak while travelling on a private bus and later shared the clip online, claiming he had touched her inappropriately during the journey near Payyannur. Following Deepak’s death, police registered a case of abetment of suicide against the woman based on a complaint filed by his mother, K Kanyaka. She alleged that her son had been falsely accused and that the viral video caused him severe distress. The woman is reportedly in hiding since the case was registered.
Employees of the private bus, Al Ameen, in which the incident allegedly occurred, said no complaint of harassment was raised during the journey. “We came to know about the issue only after the bus owner contacted us to ask if any such incident had taken place. No passenger reported anything,” said conductor Ramakrishnan, adding that he saw the video only after it began circulating online. He also noted that due to heavy crowding, the bus’s CCTV camera may not have captured clear footage of the incident.
Police have said that obtaining the original, unedited video recorded by the woman is crucial to the investigation, as the clip shared on social media was very short and insufficient for a detailed forensic examination.
Deepak’s parents have demanded a comprehensive probe and insisted that the accused should not be allowed to evade legal action. The case has sparked widespread public reaction, with several complaints filed seeking action against the woman.
Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken cognisance of the matter and directed the North Zone Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to conduct a probe. SHRC judicial member K Byjunath has instructed that a report be submitted within a week. The commission is scheduled to hear the case on February 19 during its sitting at the PWD rest house in Kozhikode.
