This trend, was observed in cities like Ahmedabad and Surat for several years, highlighted rising anxiety among concerned individuals seeking assurance
A pronounced spike in private surveillance activities was recorded during the recent Navratri festival, as anxious parents and partners deployed tracking technology and hired private investigators to monitor loved ones attending all-night Garba events.
Sales of surveillance devices, including compact GPS trackers, reportedly surged by 50 per cent across key cities, with private detective agencies offering specific monitoring packages for the nine-day period.
This trend, was observed in cities like Ahmedabad and Surat for several years, highlighted rising anxiety among concerned individuals seeking assurance that their partners and children did not “fall into bad company” while enjoying the festivities.
The boom in electronic monitoring was quantified by one GPS seller in Surat, who confirmed that sales of small, portable devices saw a sharp rise during Navratri, with over 1,200 units sold.
Priced between RS 2,200 and RS 3,000, these compact GPS trackers were designed to be easily hidden in personal items—including purses, cars, or traditional attire like chaniya cholis—and were capable of running continuously for the duration of the festival. The corresponding mobile apps allowed users to track a vehicle’s location, speed, route, and stops in real time.
Prakash Prajapati, a veteran private detective in South Gujarat, confirmed that detective services saw strong demand, complementing electronic surveillance with human monitoring. His teams employed GPS trackers, hidden audio recorders, and spy cameras concealed within everyday items such as buttons, pens, and watches.
Detective agencies claimed an impressive 80% success rate, providing clients with live location data, photos, and video evidence. Prajapati noted that while confrontations occasionally arose, his trained teams managed these delicate situations carefully to secure evidence for clients.
