Nagpur: Yet another high-profile crime investigation in the city has been crippled by non-operational Smart City CCTV cameras. The latest setback came after a grain merchant was shot at and robbed in Bezonbagh on Wednesday night, forcing police to depend on private surveillance systems to track the armed culprits.

The victim, Raju Dipani, was initially believed to be carrying ₹2 lakh. He later revised the amount to ₹1.5 lakh and finally admitted the attackers fled with nearly ₹50 lakh collected from other traders, fuelling strong suspicion of hawala transactions.

According to senior officials, footage from the Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) network was unavailable at critical junctions including Kadbi Square, Indora and Bezonbagh. “The issue of non-functional cameras has persisted for a long time and poses a serious hurdle to investigations. Despite repeated letters and meetings with the concerned department, the response remains slow,” a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity.

Crime Branch sources confirmed that five special teams and Jaripatka police are relying mainly on human intelligence and private camera networks. They warned that the absence of Smart City footage has already delayed the probe, depriving investigators of vital evidence.

Officials further disclosed that 40–60% of the city’s Smart City cameras are out of order, largely due to roadwork and infrastructure projects by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD). Many units remain damaged and unrepaired, raising serious questions over the city’s much-touted surveillance initiative.

The incident has once again underscored the urgent need for timely maintenance of Nagpur’s Smart City camera network to prevent criminals from exploiting glaring surveillance gaps.