In an era where public trust in institutions is built on transparency and accountability, a young and dynamic officer, Nitesh Wadhwani, an IPS officer of 2018 batch from Odisha cadre, has become the face of digital transformation in law enforcement. As a key leader in the Rourkela Police District, Mr Wadhwani has spearheaded a pioneering initiative that is now being hailed as a model of good governance in policing: the Anusandhan Portal.
What began as a response to long-standing public grievances has grown into a revolutionary platform – bridging the gap between the police and the people. Under Mr Wadhwani’s visionary leadership, Rourkela Police has implemented a user-friendly, transparent, and proactive system that enables complainants to track the progress of their cases in real time. The portal, developed with technical support from NIT Rourkela, aims to enhance transparency and build public trust.
Indian Masterminds interacted with IPS Wadhwani, SP of Rourkela city, which falls under Sundargarh district, Odisha, to learn more about the initiative and its impact.
“Our goal was simple but powerful – to make policing more transparent and accessible to the people we serve,” says Mr Wadhwani. “The Anusandhan Portal is not just a tool; it’s a promise of accountability, responsiveness, and citizen-centric governance.”
BACKGROUND: NEW CRIMINAL LAWS AND THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY
With the implementation of new criminal laws across India on July 1, 2024, law enforcement agencies were required to align their processes with the updated mandates. A key provision under Section 193 (3) (ii) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) mandates that investigating officers must inform complainants about the progress of investigations within 90 days, including through electronic means.
Public interactions revealed a glaring gap: complainants were often unaware of what was happening after their FIRs (First Information Reports) were filed. The police’s inability to provide timely updates – due to manpower issues or system opacity – led to dissatisfaction and erosion of public trust.
THE BIRTH OF THE ANUSANDHAN PORTAL
Responding to these concerns, Rourkela Police District launched the Anusandhan Portal on February 14, 2025, in collaboration with the Automation Team from NIT Rourkela. This initiative, driven directly by Officer Nitesh Wadhwani, was designed not just to fulfill legal compliance, but to redefine service delivery and accountability within the criminal justice system.
The portal was developed in-house by the Rourkela Police IT Cell, ensuring that it catered specifically to the ground realities and workflow of police stations in the district.
WHAT THE ANUSANDHAN PORTAL DOES
The Anusandhan Portal is a secure, multilingual (Odia and Hindi) digital platform that enables OTP-based access for complainants to check the real-time status of their FIRs. Information that was earlier limited to internal systems like CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System) is now partially visible to the public – bridging the gap between registration and resolution.
KEY FEATURES INCLUDE
- Legal Compliance: Fulfills the requirement under Section 193(3)(ii) BNSS 2023.
- OTP-Based Complainant Access: Ensures privacy while providing case transparency.
- Stage-Wise Tracking: From FIR registration to court judgment.
- Auto SMS Alerts: Notifies complainants when new updates are made.
- Multilingual Interface: Available in Odia and Hindi.
- Citizen & Officer Interfaces: Designed for both public access and officer updates.
- Data Security: Robust safeguards to prevent misuse of sensitive information.
- Paperless Functionality: Promotes environmentally conscious governance.
HOW THE PORTAL WORKS
- Visit www.rourkelapolice.in
- Select the “Complainant Login” option
- Enter your registered mobile number
- Authenticate using the OTP received on your mobile
- Access real-time FIR updates
IMPACT: REAL-TIME ACCESS, REAL RESULTS
Since its launch, the portal has made a significant difference-
- Over 5,800 FIRs filed since July 1, 2024, have been uploaded.
- More than 7,800 hits on the portal, with 3,500+ unique users.
- Drastic reduction in grievances at the District Police Office.
- Officers are now accountable for regular updates.
- Citizens can track their cases without visiting police stations.
One of the most commonly heard grievances, “What is happening in my case?”, is now being proactively addressed through the portal.
A TOOL FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The portal isn’t just a tool for information – it’s a mechanism for monitoring internal performance through-
- Live Dashboard Analytics
- Layered Supervision Mechanism
- Digitized Uploads
- Automated Alerts
- Accountability Mapping
These features ensure that field-level officers and supervisors are both looped in, monitored, and empowered to act.
LOOKING AHEAD: AI AND BEYOND
With the system now in place, Officer Wadhwani and his team plan to introduce AI-based analytics to-
- Identify delays in investigations
- Detect data anomalies
- Extend tracking to the trial process for end-to-end case monitoring
This would further streamline the criminal justice workflow and could eventually serve as a national model.
A MODEL WORTH REPLICATING
What has transpired in Rourkela under the dynamic leadership of IPS Wadhwani is more than just an IT project – it’s a paradigm shift in public service delivery within the police force. It shows how technology, vision, and leadership can come together to bring about meaningful reform.
By building trust, increasing transparency, and empowering both citizens and officers, the Anusandhan Portal has set a new benchmark for policing in India – one that should serve as a template for replication in other districts.
