Top news of the day: Inquiry committee concludes that cash was found in Justice Varma’s storeroom; Israel’s Defence Minister says Iran’s Khamenei ‘cannot continue to exist’, and more

Israel’s Defence Minister overtly threatened Iran’s Supreme Leader on Thursday, June 19, 2025, after the latest missile barrage from Iran damaged the main hospital in southern Israel. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Cash discovery row: Piles of currency notes found in Justice Varma’s gutted storeroom, says inquiry committee report

An in-house inquiry committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India concluded that cash was found in the gutted storeroom at the official residential premises of High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, and police and fire authorities were “slipshod” in not lodging an FIR or preparing a seizure memo recording exactly what they came across at the scene of the fire on March 14-15.

Israel threatens Iran’s Khamenei after missiles damage hospital and wound over 200

Israel’s Defence Minister overtly threatened Iran’s Supreme Leader on Thursday (June 19, 2025) after the latest missile barrage from Iran damaged the main hospital in southern Israel and hit several other residential buildings near Tel Aviv. Israel meanwhile struck a heavy water reactor that is part of Iran’s nuclear program.

‘Those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed’: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday (June 19, 2025) that those who speak English in India would “soon feel ashamed” and that the creation of such a society was not far away. He added that without Indian languages, “we cease to be truly Indian”.

‘Thug Life’ release in Karnataka: Unending ‘litany of hurt sentiments’ cannot choke free speech in films, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday (June 19, 2025) said an unending “litany of hurt sentiments” has become a cause of mob violence and threats against free speech and expression in films, literature and theatre in “undivided India”. A Vacation Bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan stressed that the State has a duty to ensure that “these mobs, groups who threaten people are taken to task”. Free speech in films cannot live in lurking fear of violence, Justice Bhuyan said.

Change in Manipur admin inevitable, popular govt should be formed: Assembly speaker

Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh on Thursday (June 19, 2025) said a change in the administration in the state, which is currently under the President’s rule, is inevitable. He also said a popular government should be formed in Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 2023.

Centre’s stand on Keeladi report an onslaught on Tamil culture: T.N. CM Stalin

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Thursday (June 19, 2025), described the BJP-led Union government’s decision to not publish the Keeladi excavation report on the grounds that it lacked sufficient evidence was an “onslaught on Tamil culture.”

FIR filed against ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ for ‘distorting history’ of Bengali freedom fighters

An FIR has been registered against the producers of the film Kesari Chapter 2 at the Bidhannagar South police station in West Bengal, following allegations of misrepresenting historical facts related to the state’s freedom fighters. The complaint, filed by Ranajit Biswas, a resident of Nabapally, accuses the film of inaccurately portraying prominent Bengali revolutionaries. According to the FIR, the film refers to Khudiram Bose as “Khudiram Singh” and identifies Barindra Kumar Ghosh as “Birendra Kumar” from Amritsar. The film is currently streaming on Jio Hotstar.

Shashi Tharoor says he has ‘differences of opinion’ with some in Congress leadership

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor on Thursday (June 19, 2025) said that he has “differences of opinion” with some in the party leadership, but he is not going to talk about them in view of the bypoll in Nilambur constituency.

Published - June 19, 2025 06:13 pm IST