A 15-year-old girl was doused in petrol and set ablaze by three miscreants in Bayabar village, Puri, Odisha, while en route to her friend’s house. The incident occurred just 1.5 km from Balanga police station. The girl, now in critical condition, was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Odisha Deputy CM Pravati Parida condemned the act, assuring full medical support and swift police action. The attack follows the recent death of a college student who self-immolated after alleging sexual harassment. The Trinamool Congress slammed the BJP government, calling it “criminal negligence” and accusing PM Modi of failing to protect women. Police are investigating the motive and searching for the culprits. (PC: India TV News & India Today)

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed all political parties support the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma after sacks of burnt cash were found at his Delhi residence. Rijiju stressed that judicial corruption is a serious issue requiring unity. Congress also backed the move, citing the need to uphold the judiciary’s integrity. A judge’s removal requires signatures from 100 Lok Sabha and 50 Rajya Sabha MPs. Justice Varma denied wrongdoing, but an in-house inquiry found misconduct warranting removal. Rijiju dismissed criticism from Kapil Sibal, saying Parliament will not be guided by individual agendas but by collective integrity. (PC: India Today)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with a ₹2,161 crore liquor scam. The arrest followed a raid at their Bhilai residence on the final day of the Assembly session, when Baghel planned to raise concerns over tree felling in Tamnar for an Adani-linked coal mine. The ED alleges a cartel of officials and politicians manipulated liquor sales, bypassing the state exchequer. Congress leaders condemned the arrest as political vendetta. The scam reportedly operated between 2019–2022 under Baghel’s government. ED previously recovered ₹33 lakh from Baghel’s home and arrested several officials. Investigations continue.

A massive fire broke out early Friday morning at a private iron factory in Sembakkam, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the site, prompting immediate deployment of fire and rescue personnel. The blaze triggered panic in the surrounding area, though no casualties have been reported yet. Rescue operations are currently underway, with authorities working to contain the fire and assess the damage. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and further details are awaited. Officials have urged the public to avoid the vicinity while emergency teams continue their efforts. The incident has raised concerns over industrial safety protocols in the region.

  In the early hours of July 18, over 20 Delhi schools—including Abhinav Public School (Rohini Sector 3) and Richmondd Global School (Paschim Vihar)—received threatening emails claiming bombs were planted on their premises. Both Delhi Police and Fire Service teams swiftly evacuated students and staff, conducting extensive searches; no explosives were found . This marks the fourth wave of such threats this week, following previous alerts to St. Thomas School, St. Stephen's College, Navy and CRPF schools, and others between July 14–16 . Authorities are investigating, treating these as potential hoaxes while heightening security protocols across educational institutions. (PC: Facebook)  

5 men walked into Patna's Paras Hospital with guns and shot gangster Chandan Mishra dead inside Room 209. CCTV shows them entering calmly, pulling out pistols from under their shirts. After the shooting, four ran out while one walked out slowly, staring at a witness. Mishra, serving life for a 2011 murder, was out on parole for treatment. He had over 20 criminal cases against him. The police are probing possible lapses in security. One shooter has been identified, and reports say one was arrested. Mishra’s death has raised fresh questions about law and order in Bihar. (PC: CCTV grab/HT)

On 16 July 2025, the Indian Army and DRDO successfully test-fired the Akash Prime missile system at an altitude exceeding 15,000 ft in Ladakh. The upgraded variant intercepted and destroyed two high‑speed unmanned aerial targets, showcasing its enhanced precision and reliability in tough high‑altitude conditions . Armed with an indigenously developed radio-frequency seeker and capable of engaging threats within a 20 km range, Akash Prime is set to form the 3rd and 4th regiments in India’s air-defence arsenal . The successful trial reinforces India's multi-layered air defence strategy, drawing lessons from its deployment during Operation Sindoor. (PC: NDTV)

On June 4, a tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured over 50 during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations. A status report submitted July 17 to the Karnataka High Court blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru, their event-management partner DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association for organizing the parade “unilaterally and without permission” . The report highlighted absence of legal approvals, chaotic social-media invites—including a Virat Kohli video—poor crowd and gate control, unclear pass distribution, and lack of medical amenities . Despite existing police plans, organizers pressed ahead, triggering panic and the fatal stampede. Judicial and administrative probes, FIRs, arrests, and official suspensions are underway. (PC: The Hindu)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided 14 premises — 12 in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur and 2 in Mumbai — linked to the Chhangur Baba religious conversion case. The probe focuses on a ₹2 crore transfer from accused Naveen to Shehzad Sheikh. Sheikh’s homes in Bandra and Mahim were searched; he is being questioned. Chhangur Baba, alias Jamaluddin, is accused of running a mass religious conversion racket targeting Dalits and the poor. Co-accused Neetu and Naveen were arrested by the UP ATS. The ED is investigating allegations of money laundering and foreign funding, with Baba allegedly amassing assets worth ₹100 crore. (PC: India Today)

On July 17 in Patna, a Janata Dal (United) party leader was shot and killed by unidentified assailants in a targeted late-night attack, marking the second political murder in just four days . This follows the July 13 killing of BJP functionary Surendra Kewat, part of a disturbing spree of seven murders in ten days across Bihar . Opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, are sharply criticizing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s administration over deteriorating law and order, labeling Bihar as the “crime capital” . Police have launched investigations and are on high alert ahead of upcoming state elections. (PC: News 18)