Delhi Crime Season 3 Review: Shefali Shah and Huma Qureshi face off in a crime story that cuts deep

A poster of Delhi Crime Season 3

‘Delhi Crime,’ Season 3, directed by Tanuj Chopra, began streaming on Netflix from 13th November and stars Shefali Shah, Rajesh Tailang, Rasika Dugal, Anuraag Arora, Jaya Bhattacharya, Sano Di Nesh, and Huma Qureshi.

‘Delhi Crime’ returns with its third season, and it still carries the same sense of immediacy and raw realism that defined its earlier chapters. The storytelling remains sharp and layered, and once again, the show finds its strength in the subtle details of police work and human emotion.

A familiar grit, a fresh lens

This time, the story revolves around a case of girl trafficking—gritty and emotional. The supporting cast shines as always, adding texture to a story that feels both familiar and new. Yet, somewhere along the way, the pacing feels slightly hurried. At six episodes, the plot occasionally leans on convenient coincidences to move forward. Still, the show remains leagues ahead of most Indian crime dramas, standing tall on its grounded writing and strong performances. The tone, though grim, never loses its core of optimism, especially in the way it handles the relationships among its central characters.

From Silchar to Delhi—a web of crimes

The third season begins in Silchar, Assam, where DIG Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) has been transferred on a punishment posting. While following up on a weapon smuggling tip, her team intercepts a truck only to find unconscious young girls crammed inside. Soon after, they learn that another vehicle carrying trafficked girls has already crossed the state border and is on its way to Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi. Meanwhile, in Delhi, ACP Neeti Singh (Rasika Dugal) investigates a disturbing case of a baby abandoned at AIIMS, covered in bruises. CCTV footage reveals that the woman who left the child is married to Rahul, a man working for “Badi Didi” (Huma Qureshi), the ruthless mastermind behind a trafficking network. As the two investigations converge, the series widens its lens to expose a terrifying underworld operating in plain sight. The connection between Aizawl, the place from where the trucks began their journey, and Delhi gives the story a broader canvas and shows how crime transcends geography and class.

Small truths make it real

What truly sets this season apart are its fine details—the human imperfections that lend authenticity to the characters. The writing never forgets that behind the badges and uniforms are ordinary people carrying extraordinary burdens. Huma Qureshi’s Meena, or Badi Didi, is not portrayed as a caricatured villain but as a woman whose coldness has grown from survival and power.

Her diabetes, requiring regular insulin injections, becomes a recurring motif that humanises her without softening her menace. Similarly, Rasika Dugal’s Neeti is going through a divorce yet maintains a civil relationship with her husband, even considering adoption.

These smaller beats—mundane yet intimate—create a sense of realism that pulls viewers closer to the characters’ lives. Rajesh Tailang’s Bhupinder Singh stands out too: his portrayal of a quiet, dutiful officer contrasts sharply with the usual loud, macho representation of cops on screen. He is measured, respectful, and completely believable.

Credible performances leave a mark

Performance-wise, the third season packs a punch. Shefali Shah once again proves why Vartika Chaturvedi has become one of the most memorable characters in streaming history. Her calm authority, unflinching empathy, and quiet strength carry the emotional weight of the series.

Shefali Shah doesn’t perform Vartika anymore, she inhabits her. Rasika Dugal mirrors that energy beautifully, giving Neeti a balance of moral conviction and emotional restraint.

Rajesh Tailang’s understated performance grounds the series in realism. But it’s Huma Qureshi who steals the show this time.

After nailing the Bihari accent in ‘Maharani,’ she slips into a flawless Haryanvi dialect here, delivering a chilling performance as Meena.

She’s unpredictable—sometimes serene, sometimes feral—and every time she appears, the tension in the room shifts. Her character’s calm brutality is one of the season’s greatest strengths.

Honest storytelling

This season tackles the harrowing subject of girl trafficking with a sensitivity that’s neither exploitative nor diluted. Inspired in part by the real-life case of Baby Falak—a two-year-old admitted to AIIMS with serious injuries that led investigators to uncover a human trafficking racket—the narrative blurs the line between fiction and reality.

The scenes depicting the trafficked girls’ condition are difficult to watch, yet necessary to confront. ‘Delhi Crime’ doesn’t sensationalise violence; it observes it with empathy and purpose.

Despite a slightly hurried ending, the storytelling remains gripping and socially aware, shining a light on a system that often fails its most vulnerable.

Few shows manage to balance sensitivity with suspense the way ‘Delhi Crime’ does. Even with its flaws, it remains one of the most intelligent and emotionally resonant police procedurals made in India—a series that doesn’t just depict crime but questions the society that breeds it.

Rating: 4/5