Crime

A man, Jitendra alias Ballam, was arrested in Baghpat for allegedly torturing a dog and forcing it to drink alcohol after a video went viral. A case under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been registered

In Ernakulam’s Kadathy, a 68-year-old man, Ravi, died and another, James, suffered serious burns after a firecracker explosion at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church during festive preparations. Police registered a case against the priest and church officials

In a shocking update, police revealed a 25-year-old woman was gang-raped inside a private hospital ambulance, not a van, in Faridabad. Both accused drivers have been arrested. The victim remains hospitalized while investigations continue via a surfaced testimonial video

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by US forces and jailed in New York on narco-terrorism charges. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president amid disputes over Venezuela’s political legitimacy and international intervention

In West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, Pradhan Purty was arrested for murdering a 25-year-old woman. He confessed to strangling her and crushing her head with a stone after she demanded marriage and money. Evidence, including her mobile and a blood-stained stone, was recovered

Two men were arrested for allegedly posting obscene and defamatory content online targeting Vijayalakshmi, wife of jailed Kannada actor Darshan. Police continue investigating over 18 accused after the actor’s incarceration in connection with a 2024 fan murder case

A 50-year-old epilepsy patient died in Bhadohi after reportedly suffering a seizure and falling into a bonfire outside his home while keeping warm. The incident occurred in Bhakora village, with police confirming accidental death after preliminary examination

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, serving a 20-year sentence for rape and murder convictions, has been granted a 40-day parole in Haryana. This marks yet another temporary release, drawing renewed criticism from Sikh organisations and opposition groups

A 30-year-old Dalit woman was stabbed to death in Yellapur, allegedly by a man pressuring her to marry him. The accused was later found dead. The incident sparked communal tension, protests, bandh calls and heightened security in Uttara Kannada district

The Mehdipatnam police arrested a four-member gang accused of cheating ATM users by exchanging their cards and later withdrawing money. The gang targeted individuals unfamiliar with cash-dispensing machines, offering help before swapping cards.

In its first trap of 2026, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) booked two officials of the Telangana Forest Development Corporation Limited (TGFDC) and a private individual in Kothagudem. The divisional manager, Thati Sravani, allegedly demanded Rs 3.51 lakh for approving bills related to eucalyptus cutting.

Telangana Police’s EAGLE Force detained Sudheer Reddy for allegedly consuming drugs at a gated community in Nanakramguda. He tested positive during screening and was later sent for de-addiction treatment under police monitoring

A Secunderabad man was allegedly cheated of Rs 72 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as stock trading and IPO advisors. Lured through a Facebook advertisement and WhatsApp group, he invested money before being denied withdrawal

An attempted robbery at Balaji Jewellers in Nagaram sparked panic when two men threatened the shop owner with a fake firearm. The suspects, who arrived on a bike, posed as customers before brandishing the weapon.

Gaya GRP officer Rajesh Kumar Singh was arrested for involvement in a November gold heist worth ₹1.44 crore from a train passenger. Police are investigating other absconding personnel and attempting to recover the stolen gold, while statements and CDRs guide the probe

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death Thursday night in Delhi’s Sultanpuri. Police arrested the main accused, Vikram, with six prior criminal cases. Two accomplices remain absconding as authorities investigate the motive and examine CCTV and witness statements

In Varanasi, a BJP corporator’s son allegedly slapped a police sub-inspector Thursday evening in the Chowk area. Locals beat him, and police rescued him. Himanshu Srivastava faces a case and is being sent to jail, officials said

A female constable was assaulted and had her clothes torn during an anti-mining protest in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Two men were arrested, and authorities are investigating further amid outrage over violence against police and escalating clashes over Jindal Power’s coal project

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar said a viral video claiming he “turned to God” is AI-generated and fake. He warned of legal action, saying such content harms reputation, and may approach cyber police against those responsible and sharing it

Police registered an FIR against BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy and 10 others after violent clashes over banner installation ahead of a Valmiki statue unveiling in Ballari. One person was killed, several injured, and security was intensified as investigations continue

A lottery vendor died from injuries after being hit by a car allegedly driven by serial actor Siddharth Prabhu in Kottayam. The accident occurred on Christmas Eve; police said the actor was speeding and intoxicated. Charges will be altered following the victim’s death

Police in Bhadohi registered an FIR after a 20-year-old woman accused her husband and in-laws of concealing his prior marriage and subjecting her to prolonged physical and mental abuse. The accused family has absconded; investigation is ongoing

A construction worker in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal district allegedly poisoned his three young children before dying by suicide, while in Telangana’s Jagtial district, a businessman was murdered following a dispute over unpaid chit fund dues

Kerala Police arrested seven people, including an MBBS doctor and a BDS student, in a major anti-narcotics operation near Thiruvananthapuram. MDMA, ganja, vehicles and mobile phones were seized as investigations continue into an interstate drug racket