Kerala: Man found dead after video alleging misbehaviour on bus circulates on social media
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): A 42-year-old man, against whom a video alleging misbehaviour with a woman passenger on a bus had surfaced on social media, was found hanging dead at his residence on Sunday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Deepak U, a native of Puthiyara here, who was residing at Govindhapuram.
According to police, around 7 am, Deepak’s parents knocked on the bedroom door to wake him up, but there was no response despite repeated attempts.
They later entered the room with the help of neighbours and found him hanging from a ceiling fan, police said.
The police were immediately informed and, upon reaching the house, confirmed the death.
Relatives said Deepak was employed at a textile firm and had travelled to Kannur on Friday in connection with his work.
On the same day, a woman passenger travelling on the bus in which Deepak was seated had recorded a video alleging that he misbehaved with her, a relative told reporters.
The video was widely circulated on social media and had come to Deepak’s notice, police said.
According to relatives, Deepak denied the allegation and had been under severe mental distress since the video surfaced.
The medical college police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated an investigation.
Police said a preliminary inquiry indicated it was a suspected case of suicide, and the probe would also examine the circumstances surrounding the circulation of the video.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
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Former CJI Chandrachud addresses concerns over Umar Khalid’s detention
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New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, addressed concerns over Umar Khalid’s prolonged detention. He said that the right to a speedy trial is part of Article 21 and argued that unless strict exceptions apply, bail must remain the constitutional norm, reported India Today.
A former JNU student, Umar Khalid has been in detention for almost five years as an undertrial prisoner, even though the trial has not yet started. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of India granted bail to five students in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, but denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the same case.
In a conversation with journalist Vir Sanghvi, Chandrachud addressed one of the most contentious bail debates in recent years by invoking the case of Umar Khalid, who has spent nearly five years in jail.
In conversation with journalist Vir Sanghvi at the festival, Chandrachud acknowledged the discomfort many feel about such long periods of detention.
“Each one of these principles which I have mentioned does point to the fact that you can impose conditions to ensure that bail is not abused,” he said, adding that courts must consider this alongside the accused’s right to a timely trial.
When Sanghvi mentioned about Khalid’s continued detention, Chandrachud said, “I’m not criticising my court,” explaining that he remained cautious about commenting on cases after having recently headed the judiciary.
He emphasised that judges must decide bail applications based on the evidence and material before them, not on public sentiment or retrospective judgement.
Furthermore he argued that the broader constitutional principle is clear. If trials are not concluded within a reasonable period, incarceration itself becomes punitive.
“The right to life under Article 21 includes the right to a speedy trial,” he said.
He added that even laws which place restrictions on bail cannot override this fundamental right. “If an expeditious trial is not possible under present conditions,” Chandrachud said, “then bail should be the rule and not the exception.”
The former Chief Justice also put aside the idea that the bail should be denied simply by invoking national security, saying courts have a responsibility to examine whether such claims are genuine and whether keeping an accused in prolonged custody is proportionate.
Without this scrutiny, individuals can remain in prison for years without conviction, which he described as a serious distortion of justice.
Responding to criticism of the judiciary, Chandrachud pointed out that during his tenure, the Supreme Court disposed of nearly 21,000 bail applications, many of which did not receive public attention. The court’s duty, he said, is not to respond to public anger but to preserve constitutional balance.
Chandrachud reiterated that bail can be denied only in specific circumstances: if there is a risk that the accused may repeat the offence, flee the country, or tamper with evidence.”If these exceptions are not made out, the accused is entitled to bail,” he added.
He also warned that turning bail into punishment undermines personal liberty and weakens trust in the justice system.
