Devendra Fadnavis Defends Maharashtra Safety Record and Cites Rising Conviction Rates
Speaking at the State Assembly in Mumbai on Friday, July 10, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Maharashtra’s law and order record, rejecting allegations from the Opposition by presenting key data on rising crime detection and conviction rates. Fadnavis asserted that Maharashtra remains one of the safest states in the country, ranking seventh in terms of crime rate per one lakh population.
Replying to a debate on an Opposition-sponsored motion, Fadnavis highlighted that the state witnessed a decline in cases of assault, robbery, housebreaking, and theft between May 2025 and May 2026. He revealed that the state's crime detection rate has improved to 82 per cent, while the conviction rate has risen from 44.2 per cent to 52.6 per cent. The state government has set a target to eventually raise the conviction rate to 70 per cent.
The Chief Minister also detailed major technological advancements in policing. He noted that the implementation of new criminal laws has transformed investigations through the use of e-evidence, forensic investigation, blockchain technology, and digital evidence management systems. These modern tools, including the AI-powered investigation platform 'Tapas Sarathi' integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems, have led to more timely charge sheets.
Addressing safety concerns for women and children, Fadnavis stated that police successfully traced 93 per cent of women reported missing between 2021 and 2026. Additionally, under 'Operation Muskaan', authorities rescued and reunited 43,591 missing children with their families during the same period.
On the financial front, Fadnavis highlighted the state’s intensified fight against cybercrime. Between January and June 2026, authorities froze Rs 439 crore linked to cyber fraud, raising the proportion of frozen fraudulent funds from 11 per cent to 27 per cent. A new mechanism has also been introduced to immediately refund cyber fraud losses of up to Rs 50,000 to victims.
To further strengthen the state’s security apparatus, the Centre has approved a Rs 733-crore proposal to equip the Maharashtra Police with advanced technologies such as drones, radar systems, speedboats, and artificial intelligence tools. Fadnavis also announced infrastructure upgrades, including the ongoing construction of 9,762 police quarters across the state and plans for 40,000 new residential units for police personnel in Mumbai.
