Kerala man suicide: Family seeks legal action against woman over viral video
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Kozhikode: The family of a Kozhikode-based man, who allegedly died by suicide following a sexual assault accusation by a woman, has decided to pursue legal action against the complainant, even as police intensified their probe into the case that has sparked widespread public debate.
Deepak’s family and friends said they would go to “any extent” to ensure justice for him. They maintained that Deepak had committed no wrongdoing and claimed that the woman’s social media post, alleging assault, which went viral within hours, pushed him into severe mental distress and ultimately led to his death.
Friends told local media that Deepak had repeatedly insisted he was innocent and had done nothing wrong.
Police have already begun recording the statement of the woman who made the allegation, following Deepak’s death. Statements will also be taken from bus staff and others present during the journey. Investigators are examining why the woman chose to release a video on social media instead of filing an immediate police complaint, as well as the sequence of events after the video surfaced.
Authorities indicated that, based on preliminary inquiry, there may have been lapses on both sides, while stressing that the investigation is still at an early stage.
The clip triggered intense criticism and counteraccusations online, subjecting Deepak to public scrutiny. The woman has stood by her allegation, stating the incident occurred and that she informed the police. She claimed that Deepak alighted from the bus and walked away quickly after realising she was recording the video.
However, after Deepak’s death, the woman reportedly deleted the video and related posts from her social media accounts, drawing further attention to the case.
Deepak was found hanging at his home near Kozhikode when only his parents were present. His family said he was deeply disturbed after the video circulated widely and that he had no history of misconduct or substance abuse. Relatives alleged that the public shaming on social media broke him mentally.
Meanwhile, separate complaints have been filed seeking action against the woman, including a petition to the Director General of Police demanding a case for abetment of suicide.
As legal and political reactions mount, the case has reopened a wider debate in Kerala on social media trials, due process, and the devastating consequences of online allegations made without institutional scrutiny.
With IANS inputs
