The Times Patriot

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.

Etah: Police have solved the murder of Ravindra, who was killed over an illicit relationship. SP City Arun Kumar Singh said the deceased was having an affair with the accused’s wife and was on his way to meet her on the night of December 21 when he was attacked. Following an FIR lodged on December 22 by the victim’s brother Umashankar of Bahadurpur village in the Elao area, police identified Robin, a resident of the same village, as the आरोपी. SHO Avneesh Tyagi arrested him on Monday from the Bhikpura road. During interrogation, Robin confessed that Ravindra had been in a relationship with his wife for nearly two years. Despite repeated warnings, Ravindra continued to visit her. On the night of the incident, when Ravindra, allegedly drunk, refused to listen, Robin struck him on the head with a cot leg and fled, leaving the body behind. Police recovered the cot leg used in the murder. The accused was produced in court on Tuesday and sent to jail.

Lucknow: An FIR has been registered against a resident doctor of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) for allegedly sexually exploiting a fellow MD student, forcing her to convert to Islam, and blackmailing her with private photos and videos on the false promise of marriage. The accused has been identified as Dr Ramiz Uddin Naik, MD Pathology resident. According to the complaint, Ramiz befriended the woman, claimed he was unmarried and established physical relations by promising marriage. She later learnt that he was already married and living in Thakurganj, Lucknow. When she insisted on marriage, he allegedly made religious conversion a condition and threatened to make her private content viral. The victim also alleged that she became pregnant in September and was forced to undergo a medical abortion. Under severe mental distress, she attempted suicide on December 17 by consuming sleeping pills and was saved after being rushed to a trauma centre. Police said the case has been regis...

A disturbing video from Salem has gone viral, showing an auto-rickshaw ramming into a pedestrian on a narrow residential street, raising fresh concerns over road safety and driver negligence. As per social media posts, the incident occurred on a stretch with a speed hump meant to slow vehicles. However, the auto driver appeared inattentive and failed to notice the pedestrian ahead, hitting the person before the vehicle toppled over. Panic gripped the area as local residents rushed to help. The visuals, described as disturbing, drew sharp reactions online, with many questioning reckless driving even on traffic-calmed roads. Road safety activists have called for stricter monitoring of auto drivers, better training, and tougher action against distracted driving. There is no official update yet on the pedestrian’s condition. The incident highlights growing concerns over road discipline and pedestrian safety in residential areas.

Uttar Pradesh Police have solved a chilling blind murder case in Sambhal district, in which a woman and her lover allegedly killed her husband, dismembered his body, and dumped the parts at different locations to mislead investigators. The case came to light on December 15, when Chandausi Kotwali police recovered a severely decomposed torso stuffed in a black bag from behind an Idgah on Patroua Road. The body was missing its head and limbs, making identification difficult. During forensic examination, police noticed a tattoo with the name “Rahul” on the severed arm, which proved to be a crucial breakthrough. A check of missing person records revealed that a woman named Ruby, a resident of Chunni Mohalla, had filed a complaint on November 24 stating that her husband Rahul had gone missing since November 18. Ruby was called for questioning, but she denied that the torso belonged to her husband. However, police grew suspicious due to contradictions in her statements and her nervous behavi...