Criminal Justice (India) – I Can’t Stop Thinking About It

I didn’t expect to carry the weight of Criminal Justice Season 1 with me long after the final credits rolled.

Originally adapted from the BBC series of the same name, the Indian version, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vishal Furia, is more than just a courtroom drama—it’s a dissection of the Indian criminal justice system, class privilege, and the presumption of guilt. It left me not only disturbed but also deeply introspective. I’ve rewatched it. I’ve discussed it. I’ve Googled everything I could about wrongful convictions in India. And still, I can’t stop thinking about it.

When Fiction Feels Too Real
At the heart of the series is Aditya Sharma (played by Vikrant Massey), a bright-eyed MBA student and cab driver who, after a drug-fueled night with a passenger, wakes up to find her dead. What follows is a nightmare: he’s arrested, jailed, brutalized, and presumed guilty even before the evidence is fully processed.

It’s a fictional narrative, sure. But it unfolds so believably within the framework of India’s overburdened and slow-moving criminal justice system that it doesn’t feel like fiction at all. As the plot moved between prison brutality, corrupt cops, legal loopholes, and family breakdown, I couldn’t help but ask: How many real Adityas are locked up right now, awaiting trial in silence?

Presumed Guilty—Not Innocent
What struck me the most was how quickly Aditya is labeled a murderer. Even before any forensic confirmation, public perception and police behavior pivot toward guilt. Watching the investigators fudge paperwork, skip protocol, and manipulate timelines wasn’t just disturbing—it felt eerily aligned with real news stories I’ve read about custodial torture and false confessions.

And that’s when the show hits hardest. It doesn’t rely on melodrama. It doesn’t need to. The grim procedural truth of how easily a person can be swallowed by the system is the real antagonist here. The show mirrors the very real fact that India has thousands of undertrials—individuals imprisoned for years without a conviction.

The Broken Machinery of Justice
One of the most effective elements of Criminal Justice is how it portrays the prison ecosystem. Once inside, Aditya is forced to adapt—or be destroyed. His transformation is haunting. The young, naïve student morphs into a hardened version of himself, shaped by fear and survival. The moral decay is not his fault—it’s the price he pays for living inside an institution that punishes before it listens.

The character of Madhav Mishra (played by Pankaj Tripathi), Aditya’s lawyer, adds a contrasting layer of empathy and realism. He’s not your heroic, dramatic defender—he’s flawed, street-smart, and deeply aware of the rot in the legal system. And yet, his persistence speaks volumes. He’s the reminder that justice, though delayed, is sometimes still possible—if someone’s willing to fight.

It’s Not Just Entertainment
Many may treat Criminal Justice as just another binge-worthy legal drama. But it demands more than passive viewership. It asks us to confront our assumptions. It reminds us how class, language, and legal ignorance can determine who gets justice and who gets forgotten.

In a way, this also echoes the educational world—where students with limited access to resources often struggle in silence. Just like in law, academic systems can be unequal too. Platforms like MyAssignmentHelp.com help level the playing field by supporting students who need help navigating complex topics, deadlines, and institutional pressure.

So Why Can’t I Stop Thinking About It?
Because the show isn’t just telling a story—it’s exposing a truth.
Because Aditya could be anyone—your classmate, your brother, your friend.
Because India’s justice system, for all its laws and amendments, is still rife with delays, corruption, and inequality.

And because, in the end, it made me question not just how justice is served—but who it really serves.

Conclusion
Criminal Justice Season 1 is more than a show. It’s a reflection. A warning. A quiet scream about systemic flaws that too many choose to ignore. And if you’ve ever believed that “truth always wins,” this series might challenge that belief—if not shatter it altogether.

And that’s why I still can’t stop thinking about it.