Criminal Justice is an Indian Hindi-language legal drama web series that streams on Disney+ Hotstar (now JioHotstar). It is an adaptation of the 2008 British television series of the same name created by Peter Moffat. The Indian version is produced by BBC Studios India and follows a multi-season anthology format, with each season presenting a self-contained legal case while retaining a recurring lead character, the defence advocate Madhav Mishra, played by Pankaj Tripathi.
Key facts
| Title | Criminal Justice |
|---|---|
| Genre | Legal drama, crime thriller |
| Original language | Hindi |
| Based on | Criminal Justice (2008 BBC series) by Peter Moffat |
| Production | BBC Studios India |
| Streaming platform | Disney+ Hotstar / JioHotstar |
| Country of origin | India |
| Lead actor (recurring) | Pankaj Tripathi as Madhav Mishra |
| First season release | 2019 |
Overview
The series is structured as an anthology, with each season exploring a fresh criminal case set in urban India. The narrative arc typically follows an accused individual through arrest, custody, trial, and judgement, while examining procedural aspects of the Indian criminal justice system, including investigation by police, the role of public prosecutors, the prison system, and the workings of trial courts. The recurring presence of advocate Madhav Mishra—a small-town lawyer with sharp instincts and an understated demeanour—provides continuity across the seasons.
Background
The show is part of a wave of Indian streaming originals launched in the late 2010s that adapted acclaimed international formats for domestic audiences. The original British Criminal Justice ran on BBC One and was later remade in the United States as The Night Of by HBO. The Indian adaptation was developed by BBC Studios India for the then-newly competitive streaming market dominated by platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar.
Seasons
Season 1 (2019)
The first season was directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vishal Furia, with screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan. It centres on a young cab driver, Aditya Sharma (played by Vikrant Massey), who is accused of murdering a woman after a night that he claims he cannot fully recall. The season tracks his ordeal in custody at a Mumbai jail and the unfolding trial, with Madhav Mishra taking up his defence. The cast includes Jackie Shroff, Pankaj Saraswat, Mita Vashisht, and Anupriya Goenka.
Season 2: Behind Closed Doors (2020)
Subtitled Behind Closed Doors, the second season was directed by Rohan Sippy and Arjun Mukerjee. Kirti Kulhari plays Anuradha Chandra, a homemaker accused of stabbing her husband, a prominent lawyer. The case explores themes of marital abuse and domestic violence within an upper-class Mumbai household. The supporting cast includes Pankaj Tripathi, Jisshu Sengupta, Anupriya Goenka, and Deshna Dugad.
Season 3: Adhura Sach (2022)
The third season, titled Adhura Sach, was directed by Rohan Sippy. It follows the case of a teenage film actress whose death turns into a high-profile murder investigation. The season stars Pankaj Tripathi, Shweta Basu Prasad, Swastika Mukherjee, Purab Kohli, and Aaditya Gupta, and engages with themes of celebrity, social media scrutiny, and step-family dynamics.
Season 4: A Family Matter (2025)
The fourth season, subtitled A Family Matter, continues the franchise with Madhav Mishra defending a new client in a fresh case. Pankaj Tripathi reprises his role, with the season exploring familial conflict at the heart of a criminal proceeding.
Themes and significance
The series has been noted for its examination of procedural and ethical questions within Indian law enforcement and the judiciary, including under-trial detention, the conditions of Indian prisons, gender-based violence, and the social pressures faced by accused persons before any verdict is reached. Pankaj Tripathi's portrayal of Madhav Mishra—a self-deprecating yet methodical advocate—has been widely praised and is credited with anchoring the franchise. Critics have observed that, unlike many Indian courtroom dramas that rely heavily on melodrama, Criminal Justice attempts a more restrained tone closer to procedural realism.
Reception
The series has received generally positive critical reception across its seasons, with particular praise for the lead performance, writing, and the sustained quality of its anthology format. It has been nominated at industry awards for streaming content, including the Filmfare OTT Awards, and is regarded as one of the better-received legal dramas in the Indian streaming space.
Related topics
- Pankaj Tripathi
- Disney+ Hotstar
- BBC Studios India
- Tigmanshu Dhulia
- Vikrant Massey
- Kirti Kulhari
- Rohan Sippy
- Indian web series
- Legal drama
- The Night Of
References
- Official series page on Disney+ Hotstar / JioHotstar.
- BBC Studios India production announcements.
- Reviews and coverage in Indian publications including The Hindu, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and Film Companion.