A compelling work of investigative nonfiction by Sunetra Choudhury, first published in 2019. Drawing on years of reporting, Choudhury offers a rare look inside India's prison system, exploring the lives of inmates, prison officials, lawyers, and families affected by incarceration.

Rather than focusing on a single case, the book presents a series of real-life stories from prisons across India. Through interviews with convicted criminals, undertrial prisoners, jail superintendents, police officers, and legal experts, Choudhury examines what life is actually like behind prison walls. The narratives include notorious criminals, people convicted of serious offences, and individuals who have spent years awaiting trial.

The book explores issues such as overcrowding, prison violence, corruption, rehabilitation, mental health, the slow pace of the justice system, and the stark contrast between high-profile prisoners and ordinary inmates. It also highlights the human side of incarceration, showing how imprisonment affects not only prisoners but also their families and the officials responsible for managing correctional facilities.

Written in an accessible journalistic style, Behind Bars avoids sensationalism and instead presents a nuanced picture of India's criminal justice system. It encourages readers to think critically about punishment, reform, and the challenges of balancing justice with humanity.