Harnessing AI and forensic innovation: How Pelorus is building cohesive platforms that strengthen national security

Pelorus Technologies’ story is one of vision, resilience and innovation. Established in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks, the company emerged with a mission to strengthen India’s security landscape through advanced, homegrown technology.

Under the leadership of Rahul Dwivedi, Pelorus evolved from a young startup into a trusted security solutions provider, supporting multiple sectors across law enforcement and intelligence. Driven by a commitment to innovation, the company leverages advanced technologies and data-driven insights to deliver integrated security solutions tailored to India’s evolving challenges.

Pelorus stands today as a symbol of how purpose-driven entrepreneurship can transform national resilience through technology. Pelorus Technologies, a national security and defence intelligence company, founded post-26/11 to strengthen India’s internal security.

With AI-driven digital forensics, drone interception systems, and real-time threat detection, Pelorus works with 50+ law enforcement agencies including the Indian Navy, CBI, and NCB. Dwivedi, who is the Founder and CEO of the Mumbai-based organisation, in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz explained about dangers posed by drones and calls for elaborate safety precautions like optimum use of artificial intelligence to not only take care of critical infrastructure but also the denizens' wellbeing.

In the detailed interview, he dwells into why drones are modern-day Trojan horses in India’s cybersecurity landscape, lessons learnt from conflicts like Ukraine and India’s preparedness, the future of AI-led defence innovation and enterprise cybersecurity and the need for building India’s only unified forensic analysis platform from the ground up

Pelorus was founded in the aftermath of 26/11—how did that shape the company’s mission and approach to security?

Pelorus Technologies was established in response to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks—a watershed moment in India’s history that exposed glaring gaps in the country’s interception, surveillance, and forensic capabilities. The attacks underscored the need for modern, adaptive, and integrated security systems capable of addressing evolving threats.

From the outset, Pelorus was built with a mission to develop homegrown, advanced digital forensic and intelligence tools tailored to India’s unique security challenges.Pelorus focuses on technologies that can be customized for local operational requirements, ensuring law enforcement and intelligence agencies can respond faster, investigate more deeply, and stay ahead of emerging threats.

Over the years, this founding principle has guided the company in creating solutions that are both proactive and predictive, rather than reactive, and has shaped Pelorus into a trusted partner for multiple agencies across the country.

Why do you describe drones as modern-day Trojan horses, and what risks do they pose for India today?

Drones often appear harmless—used for photography, deliveries, or recreational purposes—but their potential for misuse is significant, which is why we describe them as modern-day Trojan horses. Unlike traditional threats, drones can blend seamlessly into civilian environments, carrying hidden payloads such as explosives, narcotics, or surveillance devices.

This ability to mask their true intent makes them exceptionally difficult to detect and neutralize. For India, drones are no longer a hypothetical risk—they have already been exploited in cross-border smuggling, surveillance, and attempts to breach critical infrastructure such as airports, power stations, and oil refineries.

Swarm tactics, where multiple drones operate in coordination, add an additional layer of complexity, making conventional countermeasures largely ineffective.

Events like Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web illustrate the devastating potential of such threats, showing how inexpensive drones, when deployed strategically, can cause significant damage even deep inside secured territory.

The lesson for India is clear: agile, AI-powered counter-drone systems must be deployed nationwide, not just at borders, to safeguard both urban centers and critical strategic infrastructure.

What lessons can India learn from incidents like Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web in preparing for drone warfare?

Operation Spider Web in Ukraine highlighted the transformative role drones can play in modern conflict. In this operation, low-cost UAVs were concealed in civilian vehicles and used to strike strategic military targets, including air bases and bombers.

This incident demonstrated that drone threats are not confined to frontlines or borders—they can occur in densely populated urban environments and strategic infrastructure hubs. For India, the key takeaway is that a proactive and integrated defence posture is essential. Security systems must be designed to anticipate drone-based threats rather than simply reacting to them.

AI-powered solutions can monitor airspace, identify anomalies, and coordinate countermeasures in real time, ensuring rapid detection and mitigation of risks. The future of aerial threats is fast, inexpensive, and highly unpredictable, and India’s defence and critical infrastructure sectors must adopt equally agile and adaptive technologies to keep pace.

Pelorus today works with 50+ law enforcement agencies. Can you share an example of how your unified solutioning has supported critical investigations?

Pelorus’ approach to security is highly integrated, allowing agencies to manage investigations without navigating multiple disconnected tools. Our unified platforms provide seamless access to digital forensics, surveillance, and AI-powered analytics, helping agencies act faster and more decisively.

For example, when a specific investigative gap arises—such as the need for rapid evidence verification or advanced AI-driven pattern recognition—Pelorus develops custom solutions tailored to the agency’s requirements. This could involve speeding up forensic analysis, improving data handling and collaboration between teams, or automating previously manual processes.

The goal is to ensure that every aspect of an investigation, from initial detection to final resolution, is supported by robust technology. This end-to-end support not only enhances operational efficiency but also significantly reduces investigative delays, allowing agencies to respond proactively to complex threats.

Pelorus achieved 114% growth recently—what factors are driving this momentum, and where do you see the company heading next?

The company’s 114% revenue growth in FY 2024–25 reflects multiple converging factors. Rising crime rates, expanding digital footprints, and an increasing reliance on AI-driven security tools have fueled demand for scalable, adaptable solutions.

India’s security ecosystem is inherently complex, with multiple agencies managing overlapping threats across cyber, physical, and intelligence domains. Pelorus has responded with homegrown, modular technologies that can address diverse operational challenges, from urban surveillance to critical infrastructure protection.

Looking ahead, the company is focused on double-digit growth in FY 2025–26, expanding its AI-based technologies to international markets while continuing to strengthen India’s internal security apparatus. Our vision is to build solutions that are not only effective but also scalable, adaptable, and resilient to evolving threat landscapes.

Looking ahead, how do you see AI, surveillance, and forensics redefining India’s national and enterprise security landscape over the next decade?

The next decade will see AI transform surveillance and forensic systems from reactive, siloed operations into predictive, integrated networks. AI will allow agencies to detect patterns, anticipate threats, and neutralize risks before they escalate, marking a significant shift from the traditional “respond after the fact” approach.

Indigenous tools will be central to this transformation, particularly in a country like India with diverse terrain and complex operational challenges. For enterprises, this evolution will create secure, self-defending environments capable of withstanding hybrid threats—cyber, physical, and insider—without relying solely on manual intervention.

AI-driven surveillance will also enable better policy enforcement, risk mitigation, and real-time decision-making, ensuring that both national and enterprise security ecosystems are more agile, responsive, and resilient than ever before.

How does Pelorus combine entrepreneurial vision with technology to stay ahead in this dynamic field?

Pelorus’ story is one of resilience, vision, and purpose-driven innovation. Founded in the crucible of a national tragedy, the company has consistently leveraged homegrown innovation to address real-world security challenges. Pelorus has transformed from a startup into a trusted partner for over 50 law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

The entrepreneurial journey is characterized by strategic risk-taking, continuous R&D, and a commitment to addressing India’s unique security needs. By integrating AI, surveillance, and forensic technologies into cohesive platforms, Pelorus ensures that its solutions are not only technologically advanced but also operationally relevant.

The company exemplifies how entrepreneurship, coupled with technical excellence, can deliver transformative solutions that strengthen national security while fostering innovation and growth.