A tragic sequence of events fueled by a viral social media video has led to the death of a 42-year-old man in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. Deepak U, a textile company employee and resident of the Govindapuram area, was found dead in his home on Sunday morning, reportedly by suicide. The incident has sparked a fiery debate across the state regarding social media trials, as the man had been accused of sexual harassment by a female passenger on a crowded KSRTC bus just days prior.

According to local reports, including coverage from outlets such as The Hindu and Samakalika Malayalam, the controversy began on Friday, 16 January, when Deepak was commuting on a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus. A woman traveling on the same bus recorded a video of Deepak, which she later uploaded to social media. In the footage, she accused him of inappropriate physical contact, specifically claiming that his elbow touched her chest.

The Viral Footage and Allegations

The video, which spread rapidly across various platforms, paints a complex picture that has divided public opinion. The footage initially captures Deepak standing a few feet away from the woman in the aisle of the moving bus. As the vehicle shakes and rolls through traffic, Deepak is seen holding onto the upper part of a seat, attempting to maintain his balance in the crowded space.

The video then shifts angles, showing the woman standing significantly closer to Deepak. She points the camera directly at his arm to highlight its movement. In the clip, Deepak appears to be looking away, apparently unaware that he is being filmed. At one specific instance during the bus's movement, his elbow makes contact with the woman’s chest.

While the video was intended to expose harassment, it has instead become the center of a polarizing debate. A significant portion of social media users and activists have rallied behind the deceased, arguing that the footage suggests Deepak was innocent and the woman intentionally made the video to gain social media attention rather than to report a genuine crime.

However, the accuser has remained firm in her narrative. Despite the tragic outcome, the woman insists that Deepak’s behaviour was intentional, not accidental, and she subsequently posted a second video reaffirming her allegations against him.

A Family Shattered

The fallout from the video had an immediate and devastating impact on Deepak. Family members and relatives reported that he was deeply distressed after the footage went viral and he began receiving backlash. In his final conversations with them, Deepak maintained his innocence, pleading that he had no wrong intentions and his hand touched the woman inadvertently due to the motion of the crowded bus.

The situation reached its grim conclusion on the morning of Sunday. Deepak’s parents, concerned when he did not emerge from his room, tried to knock on his door. When there was no response, the panicked family called upon neighbors for assistance to gain entry into the room. Upon breaking in, they found Deepak hanging.

Public Outcry and Investigation

The death has triggered a wave of anger among certain activist groups in Kerala, who are now demanding legal action against the woman for allegedly driving Deepak to suicide through cyber-shaming.

Police authorities have confirmed that an investigation into Deepak’s suicide is currently underway to determine the full circumstances leading to his death. As the probe continues, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the real-world consequences of viral social media accusations.