The head of Punjab’s Congress party, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, has sent a legal notice to the streaming service Zee5 regarding an upcoming docuseries.
The series, directed by Raaghav Dar and titled ‘Lawrence of Punjab,’ focuses on the life of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, detailing his transformation from a university student to a criminal figure.
Located in Chandigarh, the production has sparked debate just before its scheduled release on April 27.
In a social media video, Warring demanded a ban on the series, claiming it aims to tarnish Punjab’s image. He noted that Bishnoi originates from Rajasthan, not Punjab, and argued that including ‘Punjab’ in the title is part of a central government effort to portray the state as a hub for crime and gang activity.
Warring announced plans to seek an injunction from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to halt the release.
He further criticized the series for potentially glorifying criminals, which could negatively influence young students.
Warring highlighted that Bishnoi and his associates admitted to the murder of musician Sidhu Moosewala, and their operations continue to affect the region.
The series’ trailer, launched on April 19, has garnered nearly 4.7 million views. It is produced and overseen by Raghav Khanna.
Bishnoi faces charges in various cases nationwide and was detained in 2014. Since 2023, he has been held in Gujarat’s Sabarmati prison for suspected ties to a 195-crore rupee drug trafficking operation probed by the state’s anti-terrorism unit.
Under a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs using Section 268(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, Bishnoi cannot be moved from the facility, even for questioning by other authorities. Critics have accused the federal government of protecting him.
Canada seeks Bishnoi for his group’s alleged role in cross-border violence, including homicides, extortion, and threats against South Asian communities. The Canadian government has labeled the Bishnoi organization as a terrorist group, citing its purported targeting of Khalistani activists.
In 2022, Bishnoi gave an interview to a television network while detained in a Punjab police facility. Several officers are under scrutiny for enabling this, following the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s independent action on the issue.
Warring’s notice, directed to Zee5’s grievance officer Akshaya Joshi, calls for the immediate postponement or cancellation of the release, citing breaches of 2021 IT regulations and risks to public harmony.
The notice, shared online, states: ‘Information from promotional content and reliable sources indicates the series centers on the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is linked to organized crime and faces numerous serious legal cases.’
‘It appears the series glorifies a criminal’s life, which could encourage illegal behavior… By dramatizing such a figure, it risks idealizing and validating criminal actions.’
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
