Overview
Crime Patrol is an Indian television series that dramatises real-life crime cases reported in India. It is broadcast on Sony Entertainment Television (Sony TV) and is produced by Cinevistaas Limited. The programme presents reconstructions of cases drawn from police records and media reports, framed within a docu-drama format intended to raise public awareness of crime, criminal investigation, and social issues in India.
Key Facts
| Title | Crime Patrol |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime docu-drama, anthology |
| Original network | Sony Entertainment Television |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Hindi |
| Production company | Cinevistaas Limited |
| Host / anchor | Anup Soni (long-running host); earlier hosts include Shakti Anand and Divya Dutta |
| Format | Episodic dramatisation of real cases |
Background
The show was launched on Sony TV as part of a wave of Indian crime-based reality and dramatisation programmes that emerged in the late 2000s and early 2010s, alongside titles such as Savdhaan India and Saavdhaan India: India Fights Back. It positions itself as an awareness-oriented programme, with each episode typically opening and closing with commentary from the host advising viewers on safety, legal recourse, and social vigilance.
Format
Each episode generally focuses on one case or a thematic cluster of cases. Stories cover offences such as murder, dowry-related crime, cyber fraud, kidnapping, sexual assault, organised crime, and domestic violence. Names of individuals and certain identifying details are usually changed, and the programme carries on-screen disclaimers stating that the dramatisations are based on real incidents but that some elements are fictionalised.
Over the years the series has been broadcast under several sub-titles and seasonal banners, including Crime Patrol Dial 100, Crime Patrol Satark, and Crime Patrol – Dastak, each emphasising particular categories of cases or investigative themes.
Hosts
- Shakti Anand – associated with early phases of the programme.
- Divya Dutta – hosted segments in the earlier run.
- Anup Soni – the most widely recognised host, associated with the show for an extended period and with its long-running format.
Production
The series is produced by Cinevistaas Limited, a Mumbai-based television production company. Episodes are typically shot in and around Mumbai, with locations chosen to approximate the geography of the original cases, which span urban centres as well as smaller towns and villages across India.
Reception and Significance
Crime Patrol has been one of Sony TV's longest-running non-fiction formats and has consistently figured in Hindi general entertainment channel ratings. It is frequently cited in Indian media discussions of "real crime" television, both for its broad viewership and for debates around the dramatisation of sensitive cases. Supporters argue that the show informs viewers about modus operandi of criminals and legal options available to victims, while critics have raised concerns about the depiction of violence, the potential for sensationalism, and the impact on viewers and on individuals connected to original cases.
The programme has also served as a platform for many Indian television actors, with several performers gaining wider recognition through recurring appearances in dramatised roles.
Related Programmes
Crime Patrol belongs to a broader genre of Indian crime dramatisation and investigative television. Comparable shows include reconstructive crime programmes on other Hindi general entertainment channels, as well as documentary-style investigative formats on news networks.
Related Topics
- Sony Entertainment Television
- Cinevistaas Limited
- Anup Soni
- Savdhaan India
- Indian television
- Crime in India
- Hindi television
References
- Sony Entertainment Television – official programme listings.
- Cinevistaas Limited – corporate disclosures and production credits.
- Indian print and online media coverage of Hindi general entertainment programming.