Best Indian Crime Thrillers on OTT Platforms (2025 Edition)

If you thought you’ve seen all the crime thrillers OTT has to offer, think again. The Indian OTT space in 2025 has raised the bar with gritty character studies, political undercurrents, twisted mysteries, and high-stakes confrontations that demand your full attention. Whether you like puzzles, real-life scandals, or gripping law-and-order drama, there is something new to keep you on edge. Here are the best Indian crime thrillers on OTT right now, how they stand out, and where you can watch them.

Why Crime Thrillers Are Dominating OTT in India in 2025

Crime thrillers have always been popular, but in recent years their complexity, realism, and production values have improved greatly. Audiences want more than explosions or over-the-top villains. They want moral ambiguity, flawed heroes, new settings, and stories that reflect real legal, political, or social issues. The OTT format allows series and films to explore longer arcs, character backstories, and twists that would be difficult in a two-hour theatrical format. Because of this, several crime-thrillers from 2025 have become talking points not just for entertainment but for culture, law, and society.

Main Criteria for Selection

To pick what makes this list I considered:

• Strong writing, believable plot structure, and tension that holds up till the end
• Performances by lead and supporting actors that elevate the material
• Relevance in 2025 either via new release date or recent OTT premiere
• Variety — different subgenres of crime thriller: whodunit, legal thriller, political crime, psychological crime, etc.
• Availability on major Indian OTT platforms so readers can easily watch

Top Indian Crime Thrillers on OTT in 2025

Here are some must-watch crime thrillers; some are films, some are series. I have grouped them by type or OTT platform where possible.

Netflix Releases

Inspector Zende (September 2025)
This is one of the strongest true-crime based films of 2025. Based loosely on Madhukar Zende, a real Mumbai cop known for arresting Charles Sobhraj, it features Manoj Bajpayee in the lead, with Jim Sarbh playing a version of “Carl Bhojraj.”
What makes this work: intense cat-and-mouse, moral ambiguity, strong performances. If you like your crime thrillers to dig into psyche as much as the chase, this is one to watch.

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins (April 2025)
A slick heist thriller with big names — Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, among others — plotting to steal a high-value diamond. It attempts a blend of glamour, betrayal, and action.
Strengths: pacing in action sequences, heist mechanics, visual polish. Weaknesses: some critics have pointed out that the emotional depth is less than ideal. Still worth it for a thriller that leans into the caper side.

Mandala Murders (Netflix Series, July 2025)
A mythological-crime thriller series based on the novel The Butcher of Benares. It combines supernatural mythic elements with serious crime plotting in an Indian small-town setting.
Why it stands out: unusual mix of genre, eerie atmosphere, ensemble cast. If you like that sense of something uncanny along with crime, this is a refreshingly different show.

Other Platforms & Noteworthy Series

Khakee: The Bengal Chapter (Netflix, 2025)
A political crime drama in the style of cat-and-mouse chase between politicians, gangster entities, and police. This series explores corruption, power structures, and betrayal.
What succeeds: strong production design, acting, and tension. The mood is dark, the stakes feel real.

Criminal Justice – Season 4: “A Family Matter” (JioHotstar, May 2025)
This long-running franchise returns with Pankaj Tripathi as the lawyer Madhav Mishra. This season deals with a complicated murder case that also involves familial and relational intrigue.
What is debated: its release schedule (episodes weekly), some fans feel pacing is slower than earlier seasons. But the core courtroom drama and suspense are strong.

Officer on Duty (Netflix) – South Indian Entry (2025)
A Malayalam crime drama where a police officer demoted to a smaller station finds himself tangled in counterfeit jewelry, trafficking, and connections to his own past. What’s on Netflix
Why it earns a place: layered plot, emotional stakes, local flavour with universal themes of guilt, justice, and institutional rot.

Honorable Mentions & Other Worthy Titles

• Tehran (2025 film on ZEE5/Netflix): spy action thriller inspired by real international events; raises geopolitical stakes in crime genre.
• Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins (already discussed) — even though it got mixed reviews, it is widely seen and has discussion value.
• NH10 (though older) still frequently listed in crime thriller roundups; its rawness and tension keep it relevant.

What Trends to Watch in Crime Thrillers OTT Moving Forward

1. True-Crime / Real Events
Shows/films based on real cases are getting more attention. Inspector Zende is one, Officer on Duty incorporates real-style institutional issues. Audiences seem drawn to “this could happen” plots.

2. Genre Hybrids
Mythology + crime, political drama + thriller, crime + psychological horror. Mandala Murders is a good example. This allows for fresh storytelling.

3. Regional Voices Stronger
More content in Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, etc., with dubbed or subtitled versions for wider audiences. These bring diversity of setting and character.

4. Shorter Seasons / Weekly Releases
Criminal Justice Season 4 has caused a stir for releasing episodes weekly rather than dropping all at once. Some like the suspense; others prefer bingeable formats. How this evolves will matter.

How to Choose What You’ll Enjoy Most

To pick the right crime thriller for your mood:

• If you like high tension, moral ambiguity, and true events, go for Inspector Zende or Officer on Duty.
• If you want fast-paced heist or caper style, Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins fits.
• If you prefer series with layered plots and politics, Khakee: The Bengal Chapter is good.
• If courtroom drama, legal strategy, and slow build-ups appeal to you, Criminal Justice S4 is recommended but be ready for a slower, methodical approach.

Final Thoughts

2025 is proving to be a compelling year for Indian crime thrillers on OTT. The genre has grown in ambition, clarity, and variety. Performances are stronger, writing is sharper, and choices are richer. Whether you are into twisted masterminds, haunted investigators, social justice, or family secrets, there is no shortage of gripping content. Start with one of the titles above, and you will likely find something that stays with you. Crime stories work best when they are about more than the crime. In 2025 OTT, many are.