The Times Patriot

A 17-year-old intermediate student, K.V.S. Pranav Rai Sai, died of a suspected heart attack while writing an exam at a corporate college in Bagh Amberpet, Hyderabad, on Friday. Pranav collapsed in the examination hall and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Fellow students said he had a heart condition since childhood and alleged that college staff repeatedly made him climb stairs by giving wrong directions about the exam hall location, which may have worsened his condition. Following the incident, students and student organisations staged a dharna in front of the college, accusing the management of negligence. The campus witnessed emotional scenes as Pranav’s parents, relatives and friends broke down. Police have been informed and further inquiry is expected.

A sensational theft has been reported from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where a young man and woman allegedly looted gold and silver jewellery worth over ₹15 lakh from a jeweller’s shop in the Rau police station area. The theft took place on the night of December 22. Acting on a suspicious vehicle number, police traced the suspects to Mandla and later arrested them from Bhopal. A large quantity of stolen jewellery was recovered. Police said the duo had first visited the shop during the day, bought a ring and conducted a recce. Later that night, they broke in and stole around 10 to 12 tolas of gold and silver ornaments. During interrogation, the man claimed he lost his job due to increased use of Artificial Intelligence and was under financial stress. The woman, from Mandla, was preparing for NEET in Indore and also facing money problems. This allegedly pushed them to plan the crime, inspired by the film Bunty Aur Babli. DCP Krishnalal Chandni said the accused planned to sell the jewellery a...

Lucknow: Shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to the city, videos surfaced showing people stealing decorative flower pots installed around the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, bringing embarrassment to the state capital. PM Modi was in Lucknow on Thursday to inaugurate the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal and pay tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. For the occasion, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and the Municipal Corporation had beautified the area with flower pots and hanging decorations along Rashtriya Prerna Sthal Marg, the Green Corridor and Vasant Kunj Road. However, soon after the Prime Minister left, several people were seen removing the pots and taking them away on two-wheelers, four-wheelers and even by hand. The decorations, installed at public expense, were damaged within hours. Bystanders recorded the scenes, and the videos went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism. Netizens questioned whether action would be taken against those...

Sangareddy: In a tragic incident, an 18-year-old youth died after allegedly losing ₹1 lakh on online betting apps in Telangana’s Sangareddy district. The deceased, identified as Vikram, consumed pesticide in the Kandukuru area following the losses. He was rushed to a hospital by family members, but succumbed during treatment, police said. The incident has once again raised concerns over the growing menace of online betting among youngsters.

Bengaluru police have arrested five members of a honey-trap gang that allegedly extorted money from youths by luring them through online platforms. The RR Nagar police identified the accused as Sumalatha alias Anjali (28), Harshini alias Sweety (26), Jagadish (35), Manjunath (30) and Lokesh (32). The arrests were made based on a complaint by a software engineer. Police said the gang contacted victims through Telegram, persuaded them to book girls online, and then extorted cash. On December 1, the complainant went to an address shared by a woman he contacted through Telegram. She allegedly snatched ₹20,000 in cash and his mobile phone, and threatened to demand ₹1 lakh. The victim managed to retrieve his phone and escape. On December 20, he again booked another girl through Telegram and reached a location in RR Nagar. There, the same woman, another girl and three men allegedly attacked him, robbed ₹20,000, demanded ₹1 lakh and attempted to kidnap him in a car. Hearing his screams, locals...

Coimbatore: A police constable attached to the R.S. Puram police station has been suspended for allegedly sexually harassing a law college student aboard the Chennai–Coimbatore Intercity Express. The accused, identified as Sheikh Abdullah, was travelling after completing security duty in Chennai. The incident reportedly occurred when the train was nearing Katpadi, where the woman, who was travelling alone, was allegedly harassed by the constable seated next to her. In shock, the student recorded the incident on her mobile phone and later lodged a complaint with the Railway Police. Acting on the complaint, officials intercepted and questioned the constable at Arakkonam railway station. Police sources said the video footage substantiated the allegation, following which a case of sexual harassment was registered. Considering the seriousness of the charge, senior officers ordered Sheikh Abdullah’s immediate suspension. Authorities said strict departmental and legal action would follow. Fur...

Surat: A video showing a local businessman blocking a busy road in Surat’s Dumas area to celebrate his son’s birthday has gone viral, triggering public outrage. The man, identified as Deepak Ijardar, is seen standing in the middle of the road with fireworks, forcing vehicles to stop. In the footage, a car driver is heard honking for way, after which Ijardar allegedly points sky shots towards the vehicle in a threatening manner. Though the firecracker was not lit, commuters appeared visibly alarmed. He later burst fireworks into the air while traffic remained blocked. Following complaints, Surat police registered a case against Ijardar under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for obstructing traffic and bursting crackers in a public place. Police said such acts endanger public safety. When questioned, Ijardar reportedly claimed he was a “celebrity” and said stopping traffic for five minutes was not a big issue, drawing further criticism online. The incident has renewed debate ov...

Vadodara, December 22, 2025: The Gujarat High Court on Monday granted regular bail to Rakshit Chaurasiya (23), a law student accused in the Vadodara hit-and-run case, after he spent around nine months in judicial custody. The accident occurred on the night of March 13, during Holi, when Chaurasiya allegedly drove at nearly 140 kmph under the influence of cannabis and codeine, ramming into two-wheelers near Muktanand Circle in Karelibaug. A 43-year-old woman, Hemaliben Patel, was killed, while seven others were injured. Viral videos showing the accused shouting “Another round” after the crash had triggered public outrage. Justice Nikhil S. Kariel granted bail on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with one surety, noting that the investigation is complete, the chargesheet has been filed, and that punishment cannot precede trial. The court also referred to selective outrage in road accident cases. The victims’ families expressed anguish over the order, calling it a setback to justice and road saf...

Chitradurga (Karnataka), 25 Dec 2025: At least 13 people were burnt alive in a horrific road accident near Gorlattu village in Chitradurga district on Thursday morning. A Seabird Private Travels bus, en route from Bengaluru to Gokarna, collided with a lorry and a diesel tanker, triggering a massive fire. The bus was carrying around 32 passengers at the time of the crash. Several passengers were trapped as flames engulfed the vehicle. Officials said 13 deaths have been confirmed so far, and the toll is feared to rise. Rescue and relief operations are underway, and police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.