In a landmark judgment, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 individuals convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, overturning the 2015 MCOCA trial court verdict. The blasts killed 189 and injured over 800. Five of the accused had been sentenced to death, while seven received life imprisonment. The High Court cited lack of credible evidence, invalid confessions allegedly obtained under torture, and unreliable witness testimonies. The prosecution failed to identify the type of explosives used or establish a clear link between the accused and the crime. The court ordered their release, marking a dramatic reversal in one of India’s most significant terror cases. (PC: NDTV & BBC)

An encounter erupted between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Sunday during a joint cordon and search operation by police and the Indian Army in the Khankoo forest, between Dachhan and Nagseni. Acting on intelligence inputs, forces were fired upon by terrorists, prompting retaliation. The gunfight lasted briefly, with no casualties reported so far. Reinforcements have been deployed as the search to track and neutralise the terrorists continues. The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed on X that contact with the terrorists has been established and the operation remains underway in the Kishtwar sector. (PC: HT)

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the Centre’s readiness to discuss Operation Sindoor during the Monsoon Session of Parliament starting Monday. Speaking at an all-party meeting, he emphasized the need for smooth coordination between the government and Opposition. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6–7 in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26, will be among key topics debated. The government also plans to address US President Donald Trump’s claim of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which India denies. Rijiju confirmed over 100 MPs have signed a motion to impeach Justice Yashwant Verma, including 40 Congress MPs. The session will also introduce 17 new bills. (PC: Facebook)

In a brutal incident near Balanga in Odisha’s Puri district, a 15-year-old girl was abducted by three unidentified men on motorcycles, dragged to a secluded riverbank, doused in petrol, and set ablaze on July 20. She suffered 70–75% burn injuries and was initially treated at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. A 14-member team stabilized her condition before she was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi for advanced care. Police suspect a personal dispute and have launched a statewide manhunt. Odisha CM Mohan Majhi assured swift justice and strict punishment for the culprits in this heinous crime.

A Kolkata court granted interim bail to a second-year IIM‑Calcutta MBA student, Paramanand Mahaveer Toppannavar (age 26), on July 19, after he was arrested on July 12 for allegedly raping a 24‑year‑old woman in a campus hostel on July 11 . The Alipore court imposed a ₹50,000 bond and highlighted two key factors influencing bail: the victim’s delayed and absent confessional statement, and the magistrate’s inability to record it in time . The case has sparked widespread concern about campus safety and procedural lapses in sensitive sexual assault investigations. (PC: PTI)      

An aviation expert questioned claims that an Air India Boeing 787’s fuel switches were intentionally cut within one second after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. AAIB’s preliminary report notes the fuel controls of both engines moved from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" just one second apart . The expert calculated that switching both within 500 milliseconds defies plausible cockpit reaction time, especially since engines were restored only after ~10 seconds . He urged caution, stating there's no evidence either pilot admitted to doing it . With mechanical failure ruled out, focus shifts to human factors—but deliberate action remains unverified by the report. (PC: NDTV)  

A shocking incident occurred at Mirzapur railway station in Uttar Pradesh, where a CRPF jawan was brutally assaulted by a group of Kanwariyas on July 18, 2025. A dispute reportedly erupted over train seat arrangements, following which the Kanwariyas dragged the jawan to the platform, kicking and punching him repeatedly. Disturbing CCTV footage showed bystanders not intervening during the attack. The Railway Protection Force swiftly registered an FIR and arrested seven individuals involved. The incident has sparked public outrage, raising serious questions about crowd control and safety during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage.    

India’s Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nations—Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein—will officially launch on October 1, 2025, announced Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal . After nearly 16 years of negotiations, India secured a binding commitment of US $100 billion in foreign direct investment over 15 years, aimed at generating approximately one million jobs . The pact opens high‑value European goods—like Swiss watches, chocolates, diamonds—to Indian markets via reduced or zero tariffs, and liberalises over 100 service‑subsectors . Alongside, a dedicated India‑EFTA Desk will facilitate investment and trade operations, marking a major advance in economic diplomacy and India’s integration into premium European value chains. (PC: PTI)

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to tech giants Google and Meta, directing executives to appear in New Delhi on July 21, 2025, amid an investigation into alleged money laundering via online betting apps . The ED suspects both platforms allowed illegal betting apps to flourish by facilitating targeted ad placements and algorithmic visibility, despite a 2022 Ministry advisory warning against promoting gambling . Officials are probing ad revenue received from these apps and examining compliance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) . Neither company has responded publicly so far. (PC: India Today)

Delhi Police have arrested 35‑year‑old Sushmita Dev and her 24‑year‑old lover Rahul Dev, who is also her brother‑in‑law, for murdering her husband, 36‑year‑old Karan Dev, in Dwarka on July 13. Initial claims of accidental electrocution unraveled after suspicious behavior and resistance to autopsy. Karan’s brother, Kunal, discovered incriminating WhatsApp chats in which Sushmita and Rahul plotted to spike him with sedatives and electrocute him to seize his property and continue their illicit affair . The couple allegedly administered over a dozen sleeping pills before delivering a fatal electric shock. Both suspects are in custody as the investigation deepens. (PC: India Today)