Maharashtra Deploys ‘Garuda Drishti’ to Combat Cybercrime

₹10 Crore Returned to Victims; CM Warns Citizens Against Online Scams

Nagpur, Aug 10: Maharashtra has positioned itself among the global leaders in combating cybercrime by adopting advanced social media monitoring and cyber intelligence technology under the ‘Garuda Drishti’ initiative. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the system has already helped return ₹10 crore to victims of online fraud, while also playing a pivotal role in tracking down and acting against those spreading hate and inciting violence via social media.

Speaking at Police Bhavan in Nagpur during a presentation on Garuda Drishti and a special ceremony to distribute recovered fraud amounts to victims, Fadnavis emphasised the dangers of social media misuse by anti-social elements. These include spreading communal hatred, issuing threats, engaging in hate speech, circulating fake news, and even facilitating drug trafficking.

“Do not fall prey to any online campaign or too-good-to-be-true offers,” the CM urged, warning that most financial scam platforms are run by foreign operators. He advised citizens to report suspected fraud immediately via helpline numbers 1930 and 1945.

How Garuda Drishti Works

The AI-powered system monitors online platforms for suspicious activity, enabling police to identify offenders, trace their activities, and take swift action. According to officials:

• 30,000 social media posts have been examined since launch.
• 650 offensive posts were flagged and removed from respective platforms.
• The tool has been instrumental in preventing law-and-order disruptions caused by rumours, hate content, and provocative posts.
• Developed at minimal cost during the Cyber Hack 2025 competition, its Intellectual Property Rights are held by Nagpur Police.
• It also analyses social media trends, identifies suspicious accounts, and supports rapid response operations.

Recovered Funds Handed Over

In a symbolic gesture, CM Fadnavis personally handed cheques to several victims, including:

• Rohit Agrawal – ₹73 lakh
• Shashikant N. Parande – ₹34.77 lakh
• Devidas Parkhi – ₹35.15 lakh
• Vijay P. Pathak – ₹19.90 lakh
• Rajmani Ajay Joshi – ₹29.95 lakh
  …and others. These names represent a broader list of beneficiaries.

Future Expansion

Fadnavis confirmed plans to further enhance the Garuda Drishti system’s capabilities, making it a permanent and scalable cyber defence tool for the state.