The Gujarat Police have introduced a specialised artificial intelligence tool, ‘NARIT AI’ (Narcotics Analysis RAG-based Investigation Tool), to assist in the investigation of cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Developed by IPS Abhay Soni, SP, Western Railway Police, Vadodara division, in collaboration with a private AI startup, the system represents the first instance of a state law enforcement agency in India utilising Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) technology for legal and investigative support. Other officers behind the conceptualisation include Gujarat DGP KLN Rao and Surat Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot. How NARIT AI works? The system is engineered as a private AI model, meaning it does not pull data from the open internet. Instead, it relies on a closed database of Supreme Court and High Court judgments, the NDPS Act of 1985, and the newly implemented criminal codes (BNS, BNSS, and BSA). By training the model on these specific legal texts and government circulars, the department aims to reduce the risk of ‘hallucinations’ (a common AI issue where false information is generated), thereby ensuring that the guidance provided to officers is legally sound. AI to assist in NDPS investigations In practice, investigating officers upload a First Information Report (FIR) into the application to receive a detailed analysis of the case. The tool identifies potential procedural gaps, provides a checklist for evidence collection, and outlines an investigation plan based on judicial precedents. Furthermore, the software is capable of predicting potential defense arguments and suggesting rebuttals grounded in historical case law. The deployment of NARIT AI is intended to address the high rate of acquittals in narcotics cases often caused by procedural errors. By providing standardised investigative guidance to officers of various ranks, the department seeks to improve legal compliance throughout the prosecution process. The tool remains a private system for internal police use, adhering to current judicial guidelines regarding the application of AI in the legal sector.
