Woman Arrested for Pledging Fake Gold, Gets ₹1.5 Lakh
On Wednesday, Vaniyambadi town police in Tirupattur arrested a 36-year-old woman from Bengaluru named V. Rajana for pledging fake gold jewellery to K. Dhilip Kumar's pawn shop on July 17. She claimed the pledge was for her husband’s medical expenses and provided fake documents, receiving ₹1.5 lakh before being caught by police who found the jewellery mostly fake. Further investigation is ongoing; Rajana has been lodged in a sub-jail in Tirupattur town.
Small bribe, big arrest: Police assistant nabbed for ₹400 misconduct
On August 20, 2026, K. Raja, an assistant data operator with the Arakkonam Taluk police, was arrested by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for taking ₹400 from K. Sridhar to release a no-objection certificate for passport verification. Sridhar, residing in Dubai, had complained after Raja demanded ₹500 despite his refusal. A case was registered against Raja following the investigation.
Former TNCC heads protest against Amit Shah over Delhi student action, policies
Manickam Tagore, along with other former TNCC presidents and MPs, organized a protest in Egmore on Wednesday against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The minister had arrived to chair the Southern Zonal Council meeting. Protesters accused Shah of being responsible for recent police action against students in New Delhi and criticized his policies on delimitation and paper leaks. Tagore stated that Shah should listen to people's voices and act democratically, emphasizing opposition only to him and not other state chief ministers.
Webinar on August 21 to Integrate Yoga, Ayurveda into Mental Health Care
Buddhi Clinic, in association with The Hindu, will host a webinar on August 21 at 5 p.m. titled ‘The Future of Integrative Mental Health’. Speakers include Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy, B.N. Gangadhar, and Shivarama Varambally. The event explores integrating traditional practices like Yoga, Naturopathy, and Ayurveda into mainstream mental health care, with policy-level discussions on developing integrative mental health as a specialty in India. Soma Basu will moderate the session; registration is available at https://newsth.live/THBCE.
Tamil Nadu police set up WhatsApp hotlines for confidential complaints across all districts
The Tamil Nadu police have established 'Internal Vigilance Cells' in all districts and commissionerates, as instructed by the Director-General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, to prevent corruption and misconduct. District-wise WhatsApp numbers are provided for public complaints, which will be handled confidentially and fairly. The initiative aims to boost transparency and accountability within the police force. Published August 20, 2026.
Circus Stars and Activist Kick Off 'Beyond Words' Photo Exhibition in Kozhikode
The five-day 'Beyond Words' exhibition of news photographs began at the Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery in Kozhikode on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, to mark World Photography Day. Great Bombay Circus artistes Tulsidas Choudhary, Pappu Thakur, and Ajay Naik inaugurated it; A. Vasu, a human rights activist, was the chief guest. The exhibition features around 30 photographs by local photojournalists covering various themes like landslides, transgender issues, football, and cattle races. Speakers included Calicut Photojournalist Forum convenor M.T. Vidhuraj, joint secretary K. Ragesh, treasurer Ramesh Kottooli, and Press Club president E.P. Mohammed.
OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads to 31 European countries, sparking user distrust fears
On August 24, OpenAI began expanding ads for its ChatGPT service to users in 31 European countries, following a February rollout in the US. Ads will appear on free and Go subscriptions but not premium ones. OpenAI aims to increase revenue amid cash burn and competition from Anthropic and Chinese models. Critics warn of user distrust over ad influence. OpenAI assures ads are clearly labeled and do not affect responses.
Drug bust uncovers international network spanning 4 states, arrests 9 suspects
On April 23, Excise department's SIT seized nearly 3 kg of MDMA from a car in Kozhikode and arrested two individuals. Further investigation led to the arrest of seven more suspects—C.P. Umar Farooq, Muhammad Mustafa, K.K. Hiran, Aromal Omanakkuttan, M. Ramsiya, Nechikkattil Noushad, and Sandeesh Mohan Valappil—who were part of an international drug network spanning Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Two additional suspects, including Nigerian national Immanuel Afam, were identified but remain at large. The probe involved extensive travel across four states and analysis of numerous digital records.
Zelensky Fires Deputy Amid $3.4 Million Money-Laundering Probe, Faces Election Calls
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra amid a money-laundering probe involving $3.4 million for bail payments. Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for elections despite martial law, while investigators searched Mudra's office and implicated several officials in corruption cases. Zelensky faces growing political pressure amidst ongoing military successes against Russia.
Karnataka SHRC team investigates deaths of three suspected poachers, attack on forest watch rooms
On Wednesday, August 19, a Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashwath Narayana visited Hanur to investigate the deaths of three suspected poachers and an alleged attack on forest watch rooms. The inquiry aims to assess circumstances surrounding these events, gather statements from officials and locals, examine records, and determine if victims' families are entitled to compensation. The team will submit findings to the SHRC after completing their investigation.
Manipur CM urges artists to promote peace as state crisis widens to three communities
On Wednesday, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh urged artistes to promote peace and harmony among communities and backed the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The state crisis evolved from a conflict between two communities to one involving three. Singh emphasized that Meitei community members should act as mediators, recalling his role in saving 120 Meitei labourers during previous unrest. He noted Jiribam district has returned to normalcy, with all communities coexisting peacefully.
Protesters Face FIR for Blocking Traffic Outside BNCC Office After Licence Rejection
An FIR was registered against M.Y. Basappa of Kodigehalli and six others for staging a protest outside the Bengaluru North City Corporation (BNCC) office on August 18, 2026, after their hotel business licence application was rejected. The protesters allegedly obstructed traffic despite being aware of a Karnataka High Court order prohibiting such actions. Amruthahalli Police registered the case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 based on a complaint by Ramu G., Medical Officer of Health.
Tamil Nadu Grants Year of Paid Leave for Third Child to Boost Birth Rates
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay granted one year of paid maternity leave for a third child, responding to declining fertility rates below the replacement level in southern India. Andhra Pradesh also introduced cash incentives for additional children. South India's annual births have declined over two decades, raising concerns about ageing populations and workforce shortages. This demographic shift could affect political representation as northern states see increased population growth.
Telangana issues notices to 73,39,235 voters for electoral roll verification
On Wednesday, C. Sudharsan Reddy, Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana, directed officers to prepare a detailed action plan for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls -2026. The plan includes addressing 92,87,577 electors with anomalies or no mapping issues by issuing notices and verifying documents. Notices were issued to 73,39,235 voters under ASDD categories. Claims and objections can be filed from August 17, 2026, to September 16, 2026.
GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg Inaugurates 'News in Frames' Photo Exhibition, Felicitates Award Winners
On Wednesday, Ketan Garg, the GVMC Commissioner, inaugurated the 'News in Frames' photo exhibition at Visakha Museum to mark World Photography Day and the 187th anniversary of photography's invention. He praised photojournalists for preserving memories and assured continued support from GVMC. The event included felicitations for award winners like K.R. Deepak and V. Raju, visits by left leaders such as J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, and student participation in a photography competition with nearly 453 students submitting about 1,250 photographs. The exhibition runs until August 20.
Over 250 Arrested in Nationwide Operation Targeting Shahzad Bhatti's Terror Recruitment Network
On August 12, Indian agencies arrested over 250 people from 14 states linked to Shahzad Bhatti, who runs a large social media network recruiting Indian youth into terrorism. Bhatti uses a Robin Hood-style persona and glamorized videos to lure supporters, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds. He operates his network from Dubai, using volunteers in Pakistan to repost content focusing on India.
Cyberabad police recover ₹1 crore from scam, arrest impersonator Deepak Kumar
Cyberabad Cyber Crime police secured and restored ₹1 crore lost by a saree retail outlet in an impersonation scam on August 4. Deepak Kumar, a water-plant operator from Lucknow, was arrested for using a forged WhatsApp profile to trick the accountant into transferring funds. The money was traced through Royal Moda Pvt. Ltd.’s corporate account and restored within 10 days after police action and court orders. Further investigation is ongoing to identify other involved parties.
IndiGo website faces technical issues, customers see "no data available" messages
On Wednesday, the website of IndiGo, India's largest domestic airline, faced technical issues causing customers to encounter problems booking tickets and checking in online. IndiGo stated its teams were working with a partner to resolve the issue urgently without disclosing the cause. Flyers reported seeing "no data available" messages on the site. Meanwhile, the airline is under antitrust investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for December flight cancellations and disruptions, which led to nationwide airport chaos and potential abuse of market dominance. IndiGo has proposed a settlement plan to avoid further litigation.
ACB uncovers bribery, record-keeping flaws in Karimnagar Town Planning Section
On August 18, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Karimnagar Range found several irregularities during a surprise check at the Town Planning Section of the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation. Deficiencies included poor record-keeping, revenue collection issues, and unauthorized middlemen allegedly collecting bribes from public members. The ACB will submit findings to the government for action and urged complaints via toll-free number 1064 or WhatsApp at 9440446106, ensuring confidentiality.
Congress Decides to Sing Only First Two Stanzas of Vande Mataram at Events
The Congress decided to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events, adhering to a 1937 resolution. The BJP accused the Congress of insulting the national song and questioned its loyalty to India. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said this decision reflects the same stubbornness as the Muslim League in 1931. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal defended their stance, calling it in line with Mahatma Gandhi's leadership from 1937 and accusing the BJP of politicizing emotional issues.
