In a striking example of technology aiding law enforcement, Maharashtra Police cracked a Nagpur hit-and-run case within 36 hours using artificial intelligence. The accident, which occurred on August 9 (Raksha Bandhan), left a woman dead after being run over by a speeding truck.
Her husband, who survived, could only recall that the truck had red markings, but could not describe its size or model. With such limited information, investigators turned to AI-powered tools for help.
How AI Tracked the Accused
According to Harsh Poddar, Superintendent of Police, Nagpur Rural, officers collected CCTV footage from three toll plazas located 15–20 km apart. This data was processed using two AI algorithms based on computer vision technology:
- The first algorithm scanned the footage to identify trucks with red markings.
- The second algorithm calculated average speeds of these trucks, narrowing down which vehicle was most likely involved.
This analysis pointed to one truck, which was later traced to the Gwalior-Kanpur highway, nearly 700 km away from Nagpur. The police team arrested the driver and seized the vehicle, solving the case in record time.
Maharashtra’s AI Policing Model
The investigation was powered by MARVEL (Maharashtra Research and Vigilance for Enhanced Law Enforcement) — India’s first state-level AI policing system, developed and owned by the Maharashtra government.
“AI allows us to analyse terabytes of government data within minutes. For example, 12 hours of CCTV footage can now be processed in just 12–15 minutes — something that would earlier take over a day,” said Poddar.
MARVEL is being used across 13 state departments to develop AI-based solutions for crime detection, financial investigations, and surveillance. Several other states are reportedly studying the model to replicate it.
Faster and Smarter Investigations
Police officials believe AI drastically reduces investigation time while minimising human error in data analysis. “Earlier, complex cases took weeks or even months to examine. Now, with high-speed processors and AI, we can generate actionable insights almost instantly,” Poddar added.
The Nagpur case demonstrates how AI can move beyond theory and actively transform law enforcement, offering both speed and accuracy in high-pressure investigations.
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