The Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court at Kunnamangala in Kozhikode on Tuesday dismissed the bail application of Shimjitha Musthafa, who has been charged with abetment of the suicide of U. Deepak, a native of Govindapuram in Kozhikode.
While rejecting the bail plea, the court agreed with the prosecution’s contention that the investigation was still in progress and that releasing the accused could lead to tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses. The court also noted that forensic analysis of the accused’s mobile phone was yet to be completed.
The court declined to accept the defence counsel’s argument that Shimjitha had no prior acquaintance with Deepak.
Deepak was found hanging at his residence in Govindapuram on the morning of January 18, days after Shimjitha posted a video on social media alleging sexual misconduct by him on a public bus.
Following the incident, the Kozhikode Medical College police registered a case against Shimjitha for abetment of suicide on January 19.
After the case was registered, Shimjitha went into hiding and was later taken into custody from a relative’s house in Vadakara on January 21. She was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days the following day and is currently lodged at the Manjeri sub jail.
A day after her arrest, Shimjitha filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment on a bus. However, the complaint did not name Deepak.