A 40-year-old man was found dead at his residence in Kozhikode on Sunday in what police believe to be a case of suicide, following the circulation of a viral social media video in which a woman accused him of sexual harassment.
The deceased, a native of Govindapuram in Kozhikode, was found hanging early in the morning. Police said his parents were present at home at the time. When he failed to respond to repeated calls, neighbours were alerted and the door was forced open, after which he was found unresponsive.
The incident came to public attention after a woman shared a video on social media alleging that the man had deliberately touched her with sexual intent while travelling on a crowded bus. The video, reportedly recorded during a journey from Payyannur railway station to the bus stand, went viral and accumulated more than two million views, prompting widespread online reactions.
According to the man’s relatives and friends, he was under severe mental stress after the video began circulating and was deeply affected by the allegations. His family has alleged that he was subjected to character assassination on social media and claimed that the video was posted for online publicity. They maintained that he generally kept a low profile and stayed away from controversies.
Relatives further alleged that the man faced intense online abuse following the video’s circulation. At the same time, reports indicate that the woman who shared the video was also subjected to cyber harassment.
Police said the alleged incident occurred in Payyannur. The Kozhikode Medical College police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated an investigation. Authorities said further legal action will be considered after examining all aspects of the case, including the circumstances surrounding the death and the viral social media content.
The deceased was employed as a sales manager at a textile store in Kozhikode and frequently travelled for work. Family members said he had travelled to Kannur last Friday, shortly before the video surfaced online.
Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
