Kerala Crime Files Season 2: Recap the first thrilling case as Aju Varghese and Lal return for The Search for CPO Ambili Raju

When Ahammed Khabeer-helmed Kerala Crime Files premiered on JioHotstar in March 2023, Malayalam cinephiles sat up and took notice because of its taut narrative and stellar performances. Aju Varghese and Lal lead the series as cops as they delve into a mysterious murder case. Now, Kerala Crime Files is back with its Season 2, which will drop on JioHotstar on June 20, 2025 Before cops begin The Search for CPO Ambili Raju in Season 2, let’s recap what happened in the thrilling case of Season 1.

Kerala Crime Files Season 1 Recap

Set in 2011, the first season began with a shady lodge where a sex worker, Swapna, is found dead. Aju Varghese as SI Manoj is tasked with the investigation, while Lal is seen as his superior CI Kurian. Aided by his team of CPOs, Manoj begins to track the murderer Shiju, who they realise have given a fake address and every lead to him hits a roadblock because of this. The only breakthrough is when they come to know that the suspect has a squint eye.

Through the six episodes, the series follows the cops as they use all their available resources, including CCTV cameras and making a sketch of the suspect, to track down the killer but these meet a dead end. Though the cops zero in on one Shiju, he checks out, as it is a common enough problem in Kerala where there are one too many Shijus.

The series also gives us glimpses of the troubled life of sex workers, as their ‘clients’ torture them.  Ashiq Aimar has penned the series, which also humanises the cops, as Manoj is seen as a newly-married youth who wants to spend more time with his wife, while CPO Sunil is worried that there is nobody around his pregnant wife. Even there is more to CI Kurian's fixation of media publicity.

Also read: Kerala Crime Files review: Aju Varghese’s police procedural marks an engaging Malayalam entry into web series arena 

The breakthrough in the case comes when a hotel owner, where Shiju used to work, files a complaint against him and gives his oringal address. But even that search doesn’t lead the cops to Shiju but they realise that he is in a relationship with a woman named Sicily. After questioning her, the cops find out that Shiju is working at a canteen in Angamaly. Their search at multiple canteens fails to give any result. But they find his workplace number and in a dramatic twist, it is revealed that Shiju is working at a police canteen! The final episode has Shiju recounting how and why he killed Swapna but the motive appeared to be a dampener compared to how the series was constructed up until then. The series ends with a phone call at a police station, pinpointing that cases are never ending.

Kerala Crime Files Season 2 recurring and new cast

Aju Varghese and Lal, along with the team of CPOs played by Navas Vallikkunnu, Sanju Sanichen, and Zhinz Shan, return for Season 2 of Kerala Crime Files as the cops are on the Search for CPO Ambili Raju (played by Indranas). Harisree Asokan, Renjit Shekar, Sanju Sanichen, Suresh Babu, Noorin Shereef, Jeo Baby, Shibla Fara, and Bilas Chandrahasan also join the latest season, which is penned by Bahul Ramesh. Both seasons are directed by Ahammed Khabeer.