'Delhi Crime’ season 3 exposes India’s trafficking underworld - with Shefali Shah commanding every scene

Sometimes you want something that goes beyond the theatrics and tantrums of reality TV, of which there is a saturation, to pique your interest. 

Of course, I can’t scroll past a crime drama, especially one that is underpinned by a rife societal problem. 

The “Delhi Crime” franchise on Netflix has been on my radar since season one, when it homed in on the aftermath of a horrific 2012 Delhi gang rape. It was based on the gang-rape and torture of Jyoti Singh, a 22-year-old physiotherapy intern, who was travelling with her friend, Avnindra Pratap Pandey, on a bus. 

He was beaten to a pulp during the incident.

Hats off to the creative team and cast on how they executed the series, which was a sensitive topic for the nation. 

Kudos to the creative team and cast for their execution of the series, especially given the sensitivity of the topic for the nation.

The second season, which centred on the nefarious Chaddi Baniyan gang, and now the third, were equally compelling with their hard-hitting approach. 

What I love about the new six-part series is the empowerment aspect, as it is helmed by a strong female cast, while also championing the rights of trafficked young girls. 

At the heart of the story is Shefali Shah as Vartika Chaturvedi of the Indian Police Service. The third instalment kicks off with her being transferred to Assam on the back of the previous case. For her, it’s like purgatory until she finds her next case while attempting to intercept an arms shipment in Silchar. 

She unwittingly stumbles upon a human trafficking operation with a truck headed for New Delhi. 

Of course, she is like a dog with a bone when she sets her sights on something. Much to the disapproval of her superior, she wrangles her way into helming a national operation to get to the bottom of the prostitution ring.

Meanwhile, another national case catches her attention when a two-year-old baby girl named Noor is abandoned at a hospital. 

What’s distressing about the case is the baby’s disturbing condition of being violently abused. 

Upon further investigation, Khushi (Aditi Subedi), the teenager who has been raising her, is found to be a victim as well. It soon becomes clear that the two cases are interlinked, and the investigation ramps up to find the key figures in the trafficking operation. 

Vartika’s team includes Neeti Singh (Rasika Dugal), fresh from a divorce, and Simran Masih (Yukti Thareja), both of whom mirror Vartika’s tenacity. They are aided by Bupendra Singh (Rajesh Tailang) and other officers. 

With the net closing in on the traffickers, they start taking added measures by taking out anyone who can expose the operation. 

Kalyani Devi (Mita Vashisht) is the first on the list, while Badi Did (Huma Qureshi), aka Meena Choudhary, aided by Vijay, continues to eliminate more threats as she attempts to sell off her latest batch of young girls.  

The girls, who are unaware of what awaits them, are forced to endure harsh living conditions. And they are trained by Kusum (Sayani Gupta) on how to prepare themselves for their impending fate.

As the investigation gains momentum, Vartika faces issues on the home front. Her husband, also in law enforcement, is displeased about being criticised for her controversial decisions, which have upset those in power.

This instalment takes viewers into the seedy underbelly of prostitution rings, where girls from poor villages, seeking a better life, are lured with the promise of work. What happens next is a tragic unravelling of their world as they are forced into the sex trade. Those who are pretty and deemed marriage material are sold to prospective husbands. 

However, the gender-based violence endured daily leaves them trapped in a hopeless cycle. Meanwhile, opportunistic individuals capitalise on their pain. 

Despite the series's altruistic intentions, this plight, in reality, continues to severely affect impoverished communities, as there are countless such trafficking rings in operation. 

“Delhi Crime” is a fast-paced, gritty offering. The cast delivers sublime performances as their characters suppress their emotions as human beings to perform their tasks. 

Qureshi also deserves praise for her role, effortlessly switching between menacing and caring, all while outsmarting the police. As the cat and mouse chase intensifies, she masterfully unleashes her character's ruthlessness, proving she is only loyal to herself. A bona fide villainess. 

While the stories are deeply disturbing, the successful outcome inspires hope. It’s definitely worth watching. 

Rating: **** a standout series with exceptional qualities.