Criminal Justice is an Indian Hindi-language crime thriller legal drama web series for Hotstar Specials, based on the 2008 British television series of the same name, written by Shridhar Raghavan and was directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vishal Furia. Starring Pankaj Tripathi, Vikrant Massey, Jackie Shroff, Anupriya Goenka and Mita Vashisht in lead roles, the storyline follows the life of individuals on a gut-wrenching journey through the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice was released through Hotstar on 5 April 2019. It received positive response from critics, praising the performances of the principal characters, Tripathi, Massey and Shroff respectively.
In February 2020, the makers announced for the second season, titled Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, which was released through Disney+ Hotstar on 24 December 2020. Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach, the third season of the series, premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on 26 August 2022. It follows the murder case of a young celebrity.
Plot
Criminal Justice is a thriller series, starring Pankaj Tripathi, Vikrant Massey, Jackie Shroff, Anupriya Goenka, Mita Vashisht, Rucha Inamdar, Jagat Rawath, Rithuraj Singh, Tuhina Vora. The series focuses on how Aditya Sharma's (portrayed by Vikrant Massey) life changes after being falsely accused of murdering Sanaya Rath (portrayed by Madhurima Roy). The series is split into 10 episodes.
The series starts by introducing Aditya Sharma as a cab driver who comes from a middle-class family. He will have plans of meeting his friends at a pub after completing his work, but a foul-mouthed lady sits in his cab and keeps on changing location, because of which all his night plans become jeopardized, while talking to her they realize that they are alumni of the same college. The lady suffers from mood swings, so it can be easily come to know that she is a drug addict. The lady's name was later revealed to be Sanaya Rath.
Aditya gets caught in the police station itself when the neighbour who will be giving his statement happens to identify him as the murderer, the police inspector 'Raghu Salian’ (Pankaj Saraswat) and the others search him and they find the murder weapon (they at least assume it to be) with him. While interrogating, Madhav Mishra (Pankaj Tripathi) a street-smart advocate happens to mistake Aditya's case to be a drunk and driving case and tells Raghu Salian that he is Aditya's lawyer, he then realises that he will be handling a murder case and that's how his life changes. Madhav Mishra informs Aditya's parents about the crime and that Aditya has been accused of murdering and raping Sanaya Rath. Aditya is produced before the magistrate within 24 hours and he pleads not guilty, however, his request for bail is rejected by the Magistrate. Because of which he will be placed in Police custody for 14 days. Aditya agrees to do a narco test, and a selected portion of it is shown online. People start shaming the taxi services company where Aditya will be working. Aditya's brother-in-law (Gaurav Dwiwedi) soon starts getting harassed by recovery agents due to non-payment of loan. Aditya's sister (Rucha Inamdar) loses her job and the entire family becomes a victim of ridicule by the society. Raghu Salian is hell bent on proving that Aditya is the murderer. Mandira Mathur (Mita Vashisht), a Supreme Court advocate soon starts looking after Aditya's case, she starts representing Aditya and becomes the defence lawyer and Advocate Bhandarkar (Ninad Kamat) becomes the public prosecutor. She has a knack with her usage of words, she helps drop Aditya's charge on rape by proving that it was consensual, but however fails to get him an acquittal. Aditya is asked to sign a plea bargaining agreement (where if you plead guilty your sentence will be reduced), as all the evidences point towards him. Mandira Mathur drops the case and Nikhat (Anupriya Goenka), her assistant starts representing Aditya as she asks Aditya to listen to what his heart says, because of which Aditya pleads not guilty.