A 41-year-old man was found dead at his home in Kozhikode on Sunday (January 18, 2026) after a video of him allegedly being sexually abused went viral on social media. The deceased was identified as Deepak, a resident of Govindapuram, who worked as a sales manager with a private company.
Police sources said the youth was upset after the woman uploaded an 18-second video on January 16 in which he was accused of misbehaving with her during a bus trip to Payyannur in Kannur district. The clip was widely circulated on social media and attracted considerable public attention and speculation, they added.
Some of his close friends said the youngster was said to be mentally devastated after the video surfaced on social media. They added that Deepak has reportedly denied the allegations and plans to take legal action to counter the “false publicity”.
Social media lawsuits were also suspected as the woman who shared the video clips and filed a complaint with the Vadakara police remained firm in her claim and reiterated that she was allegedly subjected to inappropriate physical contact. In her recent interactions with the media, she also reportedly claimed that Deepak got off the bus after he noticed that she was shooting a video.
Police sources said that a case of unnatural death has been registered as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident. They added that digital evidence related to the incident will be examined besides recording the statement of the woman who filed the complaint and the youth’s relatives.
Those who are in distress or suicidal can seek help and counseling support by contacting Thanal, a Befriending Center set up by the Indian Medical Association, Kozhikode. Ph: 04952760000.
Published – 18 Jan 2026 19:56 IST