Crime Literature Festival of India hosts curtain raiser, sets stage for its 3rd Edition

New Delhi, December 1, 2025: Doon Cultural and Literary Society, today organized a curtain raiser event to announce the 3rd Edition of the Crime Literature Festival of India (CLFI), a powerful initiative to bridge the words of crime, literature, media and law enforcement. With powerful convergence of stirring dialogues and stellar participation of eminent personalities,  the event was held today at the India International Centre Auditorium, New Delhi, to put light on the main event that is to be held at Hyatt Centric, Dehradun from 12th to 14th December 2025.
The event set the stage for the upcoming festival with two riveting sessions that brought together some of the country’s most respected voices in policing, media, legal reform, and social justice.
Session 1: Madam Sir – Breaking Brass Ceilings
The first session spotlighted trailblazing women and men in uniform who have shattered traditional barriers in policing and administration and the session was deftly moderated by Aloke Lal, Former DGP, author and former police chief, who brought together reflections that were personal, profound, and policy-relevant.
While  Manjari Jaruhar, Bihar’s first Lady IPS officer, shared anecdotes from her remarkable journey while advocating for greater gender sensitivity within the forces;  Manoj Kumar Lall, Former DG of Puducherry, reflected on his deep experiences and literary explorations of crime and law enforcement, sharing insights from significant cases including the Sonam Raghuvanshi case and the Atul Subhash case, A.P. Maheshwari, Former DG CRPF and Special Secretary (Home), MHA, spoke of leadership and reform in crisis management and internal security; and Dr. Rajesh Mohan, DCP (Traffic), Gurugram, offered a ground-level perspective on urban policing challenges.
Session 2: Equitable Justice: Are Men Being Left Behind?
The second session delved into the contentious and evolving terrain of gendered crime laws in India, and was moderated by Ashok Kumar, Former DGP Uttarakhand, a legend in khaki Festival Chairman and President of DCLS, whose presence lent authority and vision to the discussion.
While Nidhi Kulpati, senior journalist and one of India’s most trusted news voices, framed the conversation with nuance and journalistic clarity; Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, documentary filmmaker and men’s rights advocate, raised compelling questions about overlooked narratives in gender justice. Devesh Srivastava, Special Commissioner, Delhi Police, drew on decades of experience to highlight the importance of balance in enforcement and empathy in law; and Juhi Arora, Supreme Court advocate, added critical legal insight into how laws can be interpreted, misused, and reformed.
Ashok Kumar, Former DGP Uttarakhand, Festival Chairman and President of Doon Cultural and Literary Society of India stated, “With the ever rising crime rate in the country, there is an evident need of promoting literature in various forms to make our society aware and vigilant about the prospective scenarios and learn from the history. Moreover, recognizing the officers’ contribution to intelligently unlock the cases and solve them for end benefits, needs to be highly applauded and recognized. With the Crime Literature Festival of India, we propose a platform to the entire police fraternity as well as respectable content creators, who deeply dive into the scenarios themselves and bring valuable literature for masses for not just raising awareness but creating an excitement towards crime genre in the entertainment sector as well. With this upcoming third edition, we are sure to have dignitaries from the GoI as well as respectable authors and film producers, to share new ideas, achievements, learnings, with insightful and exciting conversations.”
Aloke Lal, Former DGP, noted author and Festival Director, said, Understanding crime goes beyond solving cases; it requires understanding people, systems, and society at large. Through the Crime Literature Festival of India, we aspire to bring these real narratives to the forefront, enabling citizens to understand not only what happened, but why it happened and what we must learn from it. This festival is a bridge between field experience and public consciousness, between documentation and transformation, and between those who enforce the law and those who tell its stories.”
Devesh Srivastava, Special Commissioner, Delhi Police, said “Law enforcement must evolve with society, ensuring that empathy and fairness remain as central as discipline and enforcement. Every case we encounter is a reminder that crime does not occur in isolation; it grows out of real human stories, struggles and circumstances. Platforms like the Crime Literature Festival of India enable dialogue that is crucial for a more informed and equitable society, where every voice is heard and every truth is examined without bias.”
“Most laws in our country have been framed to address crimes against women and to strengthen women’s empowerment. However, there have also been increasing instances where certain provisions are misused, and men too become victims. There are many cases where men are not guilty, yet face severe consequences due to imbalance or misuse of existing laws, creating a sense of dominance rather than justice. It is time to address this gap and work towards reforms that ensure fairness, accountability, and truly equitable justice for both men and women quoted,” Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, Filmmaker & Men’s right advocate
Manjari Jarukar, Author and Bihar’s First Lady IPS Officer said, “When I first stepped into the uniform as the only woman officer in the space, the atmosphere was challenging in its own way. There were awkward moments, curious stares, and a sense of surprise from those who had never seen a woman take charge in that capacity. But over time, those looks transformed into respect, and I was affectionately recognised as ‘Hunterwali’; not for force or aggression, but for the courage to lead with fairness and conviction.
I firmly believe that women, empowered across both personal and professional spheres, bring a heightened sense of responsibility and ethical strength to every role they take on. The journey has been a breakthrough not just for me, but for the role of women in policing as a whole. Today, acceptance is growing, equality is becoming the norm in command positions, and platforms like the Crime Literature Festival are helping strengthen awareness and dialogue around these important shifts.”
The event also featured a vote of thanks and acknowledgement of sponsors, Dr. Aishwarya Mahajan, Trustee of M3M Foundation, was felicitated for the foundation’s committed role in enabling platforms that inspire reform and dialogue.
For three consecutive years, the Crime Literature Festival of India successfully set up various benchmarks, not only in the realm of literature, but also in shaping the moral and legal narrative of contemporary India. The curtain raiser evidently shares a reflection of the much-awaited main event, which promises-a celebration of stories that don’t just entertain, but question, challenge, and transform society. 
About the Doon Cultural and Literary Society:
The Doon Cultural and Literary Society, under the visionary leadership of President Ashok Kumar, Former DGP and Festival Chairman of CLFI, and Chief Patron Aloke Lal, Former DGP and Festival Director of CLFI, is committed to advancing cultural and intellectual endeavours in Uttarakhand. The Society is the driving force behind the Crime Literature Festival of India, an initiative designed to bridge the worlds of crime literature, media, and law enforcement. Through this platform, the Society fosters critical discussions on crime prevention, justice, and societal transformation, inspiring meaningful change at both local and national levels.