How AI helped reconstruct a dead woman’s decomposed face, and a killer’s, to crack Nagpur rape-murder case
With no witnesses and no clue to the victim’s identity, investigators relied on AI-powered facial reconstruction, CCTV enhancement, telecom data analysis and digital forensics to identify the accused within days.
When police found the decomposed body of an elderly woman at a farmland in Nagpur district on June 28, they had almost nothing to go on. The woman was unidentified, there were no eyewitnesses and the only image of a possible suspect was a blurred frame from a distant CCTV camera. Within days, investigators had identified both the victim and the alleged killer. Police said the breakthrough came after they used artificial intelligence-powered facial reconstruction, CCTV enhancement, telecom data analysis and digital forensics. Investigators used MARVEL — Maharashtra Research and Vigilance for Enhanced Law Enforcement, an artificial intelligence-based investigative platform — to reconstruct the victim’s face from her decomposed remains and enhance the suspect’s blurred CCTV image, eventually leading them to the accused.
How the rape-murder case was solved
The woman’s body was found on June 28 at a farmland in Patansawangi village under Saoner police station limits.
The police had initially registered a case of accidental death. However, a post-mortem revealed that the woman had been sexually assaulted and murdered. An FIR under Sections 64 and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against an unidentified person was later filed by the police.
According to the police, identifying the victim was the first major hurdle. The investigation was carried out under the guidance of Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harsh A. Poddar and Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Mhaske. The probe was led by Assistant Superintendent of Police and Savner Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sagar Kharde.
Addressing a press conference, the police said the investigation was particularly challenging because the victim’s identity was unknown and there were no eyewitnesses, direct evidence or immediate clues about the perpetrator.
To investigate the crime, special teams comprising officers from the local crime branch, Saoner Police Station, Kelwad Police Station, and the Cyber Police Station were formed.
One of the breakthroughs came from the use of MARVEL’s AI-powered photo enhancement technology.
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As the victim’s body had decomposed considerably, investigators used AI-assisted facial reconstruction to generate her probable appearance. To establish her identity, the reconstructed image was circulated through social workers and local networks.
During the investigation, ICJS and NATGRID platforms were used to analyse whether details of any missing person matched the victim’s description. Missing persons’ data from Nagpur city and Amravati police ranges, and neighbouring districts of Pandhurna, Chhindwara, and Seoni in Madhya Pradesh, were also scanned.
An important lead emerged after a social worker provided a photograph showing the woman alive on the Khaparkheda-Dehegaon road shortly before the crime.
The investigators had also recovered a chips packet wrapper from the crime scene, which led them to identify the shops selling the snack of that specific brand and analyse their online transactions.
Alongside conventional investigation, nearly 5,000 telecom data trajectories and mapping records from the area were analysed, and as many as 80 to 90 labourers were questioned in connection with the rape-murder case. The investigators also obtained and analysed registration details of nearly 15,000 vehicles from the Regional Transport Office to identify possible suspects.
How AI helped cops solve the case
Footage from 182 CCTV cameras installed across the area surrounding the crime scene was examined. Technical analysis of the CCTV footage between Pipla and Dehegaon helped the investigators identify the suspect. However, the available footage showed only a blurred image.
Using MARVEL’s AI Photo Enhancement technology, police reconstructed the suspect’s face and body profile.
The suspect was later detained in Nagpur city. When his actual facial features and body structure were compared with the AI-generated reconstruction, police said the system showed about 85 per cent similarity.
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Sudhakar Dadarav Mandpe (48), a resident of Bansali Takli village in Saoner taluka, was arrested on July 6. He has a history of crimes against women. A court later remanded him to five days of police custody until July 11.
Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement)
Professional Background & Expertise
Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express
Experience: Started working in 2016
Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region.
Key focus areas include:
Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools.
Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights.
Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion.
Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur.
Education & Credentials
Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes:
MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University)
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University)
Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology
Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights
Recent Notable Coverage
Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability:
Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions.
Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response.
Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions.
Signature Beat
Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety.
Contact & Follow
X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar
Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com
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