Maharashtra expands AI cybercrime platform: MahaCrimeOS to cover 1,100 police stations; faster investigations, citizen support | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra police have been using the MahaCrimeOS AI platform in Nagpur district since April to tackle cybercrime. The system, developed using Microsoft Foundry technology, helps process complaints faster and analyse complex data. On 12 December 2025, the Maharashtra government and Microsoft announced that the platform would be extended from Nagpur’s 23 police stations to all 1,100 stations across the state. “Ethical and responsible AI for public good is our core motto,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “AI has the power to transform by improving efficiency, enhancing quality of life and delivering true ease of living for every citizen.” The customised investigation platform, developed by CyberEye and deployed through MARVEL (Maharashtra Advanced Research and Vigilance for Enforcement of Reformed Laws), serves as an AI copilot for investigators. It automates frontline processes from lead generation to action. “The project, initiated by the Nagpur Rural SP, has been helpful in crime data collection and generating leads in cases,” said State Cyber Cell DIG Sanjay Shintre. The initiative comes amid a surge in investment scams, refund frauds and digital frauds. According to I4C data cited in a parliamentary reply on 2 December 2025, nearly 2.27 million cybercrime cases were reported in 2024, with losses exceeding Rs 22,800 crore. A notable case involved Nitu Y, a bank clerk from Nagpur district. After investing in an online stock-trading app for about a month, she saw her account showing profits of Rs 90 lakh (approximately US$102,000). When she tried to withdraw the funds, she was told to pay additional commission fees running into hundreds of thousands of rupees, but the recipient claimed the money had not been received. “They told me that RTGS (real-time gross settlement) is not an instant process… then I realised something was fraudulent,” Nitu said. She immediately called 1930, India’s national cybercrime helpline, and lodged an FIR at Saoner police station. The process took just 15 minutes. Investigators can now upload scam site details, social media accounts, URLs, mobile numbers, screenshots and bank statements, whether in PDF or handwritten form in English, Hindi or Marathi. MahaCrimeOS AI extracts and files the information in the correct sections within minutes, freeing officers from manual data entry. Assistant Police Inspector Ashish Singh Thakur, who handled Nitu’s case, said that before the AI, collecting information could take two to three months. “We had to visit multiple banks, draft letters, collect statements, track IP addresses and manage multiple mobile numbers. It was very time-consuming,” he explained. With MahaCrimeOS AI, the same tasks took about a week. “I can request call detail records for multiple numbers with a few clicks. Letters are automatically drafted, and I don’t risk missing information or making errors,” Thakur said. He now handles seven to eight cases a month, compared with just one previously. CyberEye founder and CEO Ram Ganesh said the main challenge was minimal standardisation across reports and legal notices. The company worked with MARVEL to embed Maharashtra police investigation protocols and provide the platform in Marathi. The AI copilot, built using Azure OpenAI Service in Microsoft Foundry and secured with Defender for Cloud, analyses case data, generates automated workflows and suggests investigation pathways. It also provides access to India’s criminal laws and open-source intelligence to link crimes and trace suspects. Superintendent of Police Nagpur Rural and MARVEL CEO Harssh A Poddar said the platform adapts existing best-practice protocols and develops tailored investigation plans. “Investigators now have a copilot that can handle tasks using the knowledge resources within the Maharashtra police,” he said. The system allows officers to track cases and required actions, such as freezing bank accounts, blocking phone numbers or taking down social media profiles. Poddar highlighted that the main benefits are faster investigations, adherence to police standards and the ability to explain steps to survivors. He added that officers who previously struggled with cybercrime cases now feel confident and autonomous. “The digital companion builds professional capability, boosts self-confidence and improves decision-making for officers at all levels,” he said. Assistant Investigator Sangita Gawande of Nagpur Rural police, who has seven years’ experience in cybercrime, said she now handles about 200 cases a month, compared with two or three when she started. “Before, I didn’t have time to reach certain cases or provide timely answers to my superiors. Now I can complete reports faster and focus on each case,” she said. The MahaCrimeOS AI initiative complements federal measures, including the 1930 hotline, the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and Cyber Cells in state police departments, all coordinated by I4C. “Our collaboration with Microsoft began to solve complex cybercrime challenges, but its potential is far greater,” said Chief Minister Fadnavis. “AI touches every sphere of human activity, from healthcare and agriculture to industry and governance. We aim to harness this power responsibly to create a more effective, citizen-centric state.” Nitu’s ordeal continues. Between March and April, she transferred more than Rs 30 lakh (approximately US$34,000) to the fake app. So far, police have recovered about Rs 8 lakh (approximately US$9,000) from frozen bank accounts nationwide. “The support from the police matters more than the money being returned. The intensity of my financial loss fades day by day, but the support will never fade,” she said.