Video: Woman Sets Vehicles On Fire Near Orissa High Court

A shocking incident unfolded near the Orissa High Court in Cuttack on Tuesday when a woman allegedly poured petrol and set vehicles on fire. Video captured her igniting a Mahindra Scorpio and throwing flames toward the court premises.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread rapidly, engulfing nearby vehicles. Within minutes, two scooters and an electric bike were reduced to ashes. Thick black smoke rose into the sky, creating panic outside the court while proceedings continued inside.

The accused woman, identified as Minati Sahu, had used petrol to ignite the fire. CCTV footage from the High Court premises has captured visuals of a woman throwing a flammable substance (believed to be petrol) toward parked vehicles, triggering the fire. The footage is now a key piece of evidence in the ongoing probe.

Caught On Camera: Woman Sets Vehicles Ablaze Near Orissa High Court; Accused Now In Custody pic.twitter.com/x2ciL2JX37

— NDTV (@ndtv) April 1, 2026

The fire broke out on the road in front of the High Court, engulfing a Bolero, an electric scooter, and two motorcycles parked nearby. Eyewitnesses described sudden flames spreading rapidly, causing panic in the locality. However, a prompt response from the fire services prevented a larger disaster.

Firefighting teams from the High Court fire unit, Bidanasi Fire Station, and the Cuttack Fire Service swiftly reached the scene with fire tenders. Their coordinated efforts ensured that the blaze was brought under control and eventually extinguished, minimising damage and preventing injuries.

Authorities have revealed that the accused woman hails from the Biridi area of the Jagatsinghpur district. While the motive behind the act remains unclear, officials are conducting a detailed investigation to uncover the reasons and any possible links.

The incident has raised serious concerns about security in sensitive public zones like court premises. Police are reviewing surveillance footage and questioning witnesses to piece together the sequence of events.

Further legal action against the accused woman is expected as the investigation progresses. Lalbagh police have initiated a detailed probe into the incident, which is underway.

ACP Zone-III Ananya Awasthi said police received information that some vehicles parked near the High Court boundary were ablaze. The fire team reached the spot immediately. Initially, it was suspected that an electric vehicle (EV) battery might have overheated. However, after investigation, it was found that Sahoo deliberately set the vehicles on fire. The ACP added that the accused stated she wanted to meet the Prime Minister and, when she could not, resorted to this act. Prima facie, she appears to be mentally disturbed. Further investigation is underway. The woman is now in police custody and will face legal action as per the law."

Speaking to the media, the accused woman said she had deliberately set the fire to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I bought petrol and soaked old clothes in it. My son and I then boarded an auto-rickshaw, where I wrote a letter. After that, we came here. My son wanted ice cream, so I took him to a stall and asked a young man to record a video as I lit a matchstick. I did not intend to damage any vehicle, but a spark fell on a nearby scooter, causing the fire to spread rapidly. There was hardly any open space here."

With Inputs from Dev Kumar