Nagpur Hit-and-Run Solved with AI in 36 Hours
Maharashtra police utilized AI to solve a hit-and-run case in Nagpur within 36 hours. AI analyzed CCTV footage to identify the suspect truck, leading to the arrest of the accused.
On 9 August 2025, Amit Yadav and his wife Gyarashi were struck by a speeding truck with red markings on the Nagpur-Jabalpur highway. Gyarashi died instantly, and the driver fled. With no mobile network in the remote area, Amit tied her body to his motorcycle using her dupatta and rode 80 kilometers home. The viral video sparked national outrage over roadside assistance failures.
When Amit filed a complaint on 11 August, police had only one clue: the truck had red markings. Traditional methods offered little hope. Instead, Nagpur Rural Police turned to MARVEL (Maharashtra Advanced Research and Vigilance for Enhanced Law Enforcement), India’s first AI-powered policing system.
MARVEL used two algorithms: one scanned 12 hours of CCTV footage from toll plazas to identify red-marked trucks in just 12 minutes; the other analyzed speed patterns to detect irregular stops. Out of five suspects, one truck UP 14 MT 2190 showed suspicious delays. On 16 August, police arrested driver Satyapal Rajendra, 700 kilometers away.
Launched in March 2024 with a ?23 crore budget, MARVEL is a collaboration between Maharashtra Government, IIM Nagpur, and Pinaca Technologies. It’s transforming law enforcement across India, proving that AI and human combination together can deliver justice swiftly even in the most challenging cases.
