Kohrra recap: Who killed Paul Singh? Revisiting the Jagrana case and that tragic ending before Season 2

The release of Kohrra in 2023 changed the face of Indian streaming. The show was a police procedural in Punjabi that went beyond the usual whodunit formula. Sudip Sharma, Gunjit Chopra, and Diggi Sisodia created the series, proudly examining sexism, property disputes, and the oppressive weight of family honour. As Netflix prepares to release Kohrra Season 2 on February 11, 2026, the past remains firmly in the background. The events of the first season must be revisited to set the stage for this expansion of the Kohrra universe, which features a new case and a moving cast.

What was the mystery behind the death of Paul Singh in Kohrra?

A British non-resident Indian (NRI) named Tejinder "Paul" Singh was brutally murdered in the first season of Kohrra after returning to his native hamlet of Jagrana for an arranged marriage. His damaged and slashed body was found in a mustard field, shocking the local population. British national and best man of Paul's, Liam Murphy, went missing, adding another layer of intrigue to the case.

Sub-Inspector Balbir Singh (Suvinder Vicky) and his subordinate Amarpal Garundi (Barun Sobti), the younger and more impulsive cop, were responsible for the inquiry. At first, what appeared to be a botched heist or a case of vengeance became entangled in a web of deceit that stretched across continents.

ALSO READ: Kohrra review: Suvinder Vicky, Barun Sobti's excruciatingly slow whodunnit is much more than a usual murder mystery

How did the Dhillon family’s legacy influence the investigation?

As the detectives hunted for the murderer, they uncovered corruption within the Dhillon family and the larger Punjabi hinterland. Manish Chaudhari plays Paul's father, Satwinder "Steve" Dhillon, who is toxically masculine and desperately wants to keep up his "warrior" reputation. Flashbacks showed that he had a violent past regarding Paul.

Maninder "Manna" Dhillon (Varun Badola) portrays Steve's sibling, engaging in a generation-long feud with him over land ownership. His son Happy was also suspected of wrongdoing because of his jittery demeanour and connections to the neighbourhood underworld.

Which local characters became prime suspects?

The local rapper Saakar, played by Saurav Khurana, was previously involved with Paul's fiancée, Veera. On the eve of the murder, Saakar encountered Paul at a pub, haunted by his obsession and betrayal. Kulli, a local pizza delivery boy and drug dealer, found Paul's misplaced wristwatch.

Although it indeed describes the winter in Punjab, the moniker Kohrra has a broader meaning. It stood for the moral and societal haze that made the protagonists' decisions difficult to see through. The show probed the ways in which the younger generation was impacted by the older generation's inflexible commitment to traditional values, such as heteronormativity, land ownership, and patriarchy.

How did the professional investigation mirror the cops' personal turmoil?

This poison even permeated Balbir Singh's own life. His daughter Nimrat, played by Helen Sethi, had returned home after leaving her husband, and he had a hard time dealing with her. At its heart, the season revolved around Balbir's feelings of remorse over his wife's suicide and his failure to understand his daughter's desire for autonomy. On the home front, Garundi's long history of a sexual liaison with his sister-in-law, Rajji, was fraught with controversy.

At the end of Season 1, the Dhillon family's tireless efforts to preserve their "honour" fell apart. Season 1 revealed the secret romance between Paul and Liam. Instead of being a joyous homecoming, Paul's return to India caused him tremendous distress as he battled to overcome his father's homophobia.

What tragic sequence of events led to the final fatality?

A chain reaction of terrible events escalated on the night of the murder. Despite suffering injuries, Paul managed to survive a violent confrontation with Kulli, who had previously assaulted Paul with a rock during an argument exacerbated by drugs. Nonetheless, Paul and Liam eventually got into a confrontation. Because Paul would not come out to his father, Liam snapped and slashed Paul's throat with a knife he had taken previously. A speeding truck fatally struck Liam in his haste to escape the situation.

Instead of a typical villain being apprehended, the "whodunit" concluded with the killer being revealed to be the victim's boyfriend, driven by the terror of being rejected by a society that would never embrace them. Balbir Singh's decision to stand by his daughter Nimrat while she pursues happiness was a rare instance of character development in an otherwise depressing storyline, and it came at the end of the season.

What changes can viewers expect in Kohrra Season 2?

With the release of Season 2 this coming Wednesday, February 11, the action moves from Jagrana to Dalerpura. While Suvinder Vicky's Balbir Singh remains absent, Barun Sobti's Amarpal Garundi returns as an Assistant Sub-Inspector. Mona Singh plays Dhanwant Kaur, a senior official and Garundi's new boss in the new season. The murder of a woman whose body was discovered in her brother's barn serves as the core mystery, and the case is sure to be complex and introspective. 

Kohrra Season 2 will keep up the series' tradition of genuine, character-driven storytelling, according to creator Sudip Sharma, who is also directing this season alongside Faisal Rahman. The new installments will further explore human behaviour and the secrets kept by families. The return to this cold, merciless universe is one of the most anticipated streaming events of 2026 for those who loved how the first season didn't give clear answers.

Kohrra FAQs:

Q: Who was the killer in Kohrra Season 1?

A: The killer in Kohrra was Liam Murphy, Paul’s best friend and childhood friend. In a tragic confrontation in the mustard fields, it was revealed that Paul and Liam were secret lovers. Liam slit Paul’s throat in a fit of impulsive rage after Paul refused to come out to his homophobic father. Liam died shortly after when he was struck by a truck while fleeing the scene.

Q: Is Balbir Singh coming back in Kohrra Season 2?

A: No, Suvinder Vicky’s Balbir Singh does not return for the second season of Kohrra. Series creator Sudip Sharma explained that Balbir’s emotional arc—specifically his reconciliation with his daughter Nimrat—was completed in Season 1. The focus shifts to Barun Sobti’s character, Garundi, who has been promoted to Assistant Sub-Inspector and moved to a new town.

Q: Does Garundi get married in Kohrra?

Yes, the end of Kohrra Season 1 features a montage showing Garundi getting married to Silky, marking a significant shift in his personal life. In Season 2, we see a more mature version of Garundi as he navigates his promotion and a new working relationship with his commanding officer, Dhanwant Kaur.