Trial without courts

Rising cases of online abuse call for institutional interventions

- KANU SARDA

The suicide of Deepak U., a 42-year-old sales executive with a textile e company in Kerala, after allegations against him spread across social media has once again brought into focus the destructive power of online pile-ons. Deepak faced harassment after a video posted by Shimjitha Musthafa, a 35-yearold social media content creator, accused him of touching her inappropriately. As the video went viral, posts, screenshots and commentary circulated unchecked, turning the allegation into instant public verdicts.

Similar incidents have happened before. In 2020, actor Rhea Chakraborty became the target of sustained online abuse following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Even before investigations concluded, she was vilified across social media, television debates and digital platforms. The case became one of the most cited examples of social media outrage outpacing evidence.

Mental health professionals say online abuse deepens the victims' sense of isolation, particularly in the absence of visible institutional support. "Research shows that online shaming and cyberbullying significantly increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts, especially when the person at the centre of the controversy feels unheard or cornered," said Dr Jyoti Kapoor, senior psychiatrist and founder of the mental health centre Manasthali in Gurgaon. "The Kerala case tragically underlines this reality."