Maharashtra Implements Advanced 'Garuda Drishti' to Combat Cybercrime
Maharashtra has taken a significant step in combating cybercrimes with the introduction of 'Garuda Drishti,' a sophisticated social media monitoring and cyber intelligence system. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently highlighted the importance of this tool during a ceremony at Police Bhavan, where Rs 10 crore recovered from various cyber financial crimes was distributed to victims.
The 'Garuda Drishti' system has been developed to prevent fraudulent activities carried out via social media platforms. It plays a vital role in tracking down individuals who incite communal hatred, spread fake news, issue threats, and engage in drug trafficking. These activities often lead to riots and other law-and-order issues. The system has been effectively used to detect and track criminal activities on social media platforms, ensuring immediate action against perpetrators.
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of vigilance among citizens. 'While using social media to express one's thoughts is commendable, we have also observed its misuse by certain anti-social elements. Citizens should understand that any offers received on their mobile phones are likely traps for financial fraud. If you realize you have been a victim of financial fraud, contact helpline numbers 1930 and 1945 at the earliest,' he said.
The 'Garuda Drishti' system has already examined 30,000 posts on social media. Out of these, 650 offensive posts were identified and removed from the concerned platforms. This has helped prevent tension and law-and-order issues arising from rumours, hateful content, and controversial posts. Developed at minimal cost through the Cyber Hack 2025 competition, the tool's Intellectual Property Rights are owned by the Nagpur Police.
The system is not only useful for crime prevention but also for analyzing social media trends, identifying suspicious accounts, and enabling swift action. Police Commissioner Ravindra Kumar Singhal delivered the introductory remarks, and Deputy Commissioner Lohit Matgave a presentation on 'Garuda Drishti' before the programme. Joint Police Commissioner Navenchandra Reddy expressed thanks to the dignitaries present.
The recovered amounts were distributed to the fraud victims, including Rohit Agrawal (Rs 73 lakh), Shashikant Narayan Parande (Rs 34,77,724), Devidas Parkhi (Rs 35,15,842), Vijay Prakash Pathak (Rs 19,90,354), Vijay Menghani (Rs 19 lakh), Devendra Kharate (Rs 12,81,000), Rajmani Ajay Joshi (Rs 29,95,000), Rahul Chawda (Rs 15 lakh), Buddhipal Bagde (Rs 10 lakh), Aditya Goyanka (Rs 26,20,556), and Sangeeta Ashtankar (Rs 8,24,000). (These are representative names.)
In the future, the scope and capacity of these tools will be further enhanced to ensure a safer and more secure digital environment for all citizens.
