Shimjitha Mustafa

Shimjitha Musthafa is an Indian social media influencer and former local body politician from the Indian state of Kerala. She became the subject of national and international media coverage in January 2026 following a viral social media video and a subsequent legal case. The incident triggered widespread public debate on social media accountability, online vigilantism, mental health, and due process in India.

Early life and education

Shimjitha Musthafa was born in Vatakara, located in Kerala's Kozhikode district. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate education in Commerce and later earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. After her marriage, she settled in Malappuram district.

Political career

Shimjitha entered local politics in Kerala and contested the 2020 local body elections as a candidate of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). She was elected as a ward member of the Areekode Grama Panchayat and served one term, participating in grassroots governance and community-level administration.

Professional career

After completing her tenure as a local body representative, Shimjitha worked for a brief period in Dubai as an accountant. She later transitioned into social media content creation and became active on platforms including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, where she published vlog-style and lifestyle-related content.

2026 viral video controversy

In January 2026, Shimjitha posted a video recorded inside a public bus alleging inappropriate behaviour by a fellow passenger, identified in media reports as U Deepak. The video spread rapidly across social media platforms and attracted extensive public attention.

Within days of the video going viral, Deepak was found dead at his residence in Kozhikode in an apparent [...]. His family alleged that the public reaction, online harassment, and humiliation following the circulation of the video contributed to his death. The incident was widely reported by Indian and international media outlets.

Following a complaint filed by the deceased's family, Kerala Police registered a case against Shimjitha Musthafa on charges including abetment of [...]. She was taken into custody on 21 January 2026 and produced before a magistrate court, which remanded her to judicial custody.

Police stated that the investigation includes examination of digital evidence, including the original video files and online interactions connected to the case. As of January 2026, the matter remains under judicial consideration.

Public response and debate

The case sparked nationwide discussion on the responsibilities of social media influencers, the dangers of online public shaming, and the psychological impact of viral content. Legal experts, civil society groups, and media commentators have cited the incident in broader debates about online vigilantism and the need for due process.

See also

  • Social media and law in India
  • Online vigilantism
  • Defamation law in India
  • Mental health and social media
  • Coverage on NDTV
  • Coverage on India Today
  • Coverage on Onmanorama
  • Coverage on The Hindu (related analysis)

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