‘Lawrence of Punjab’ banned: Centre halts web series on Lawrence Bishnoi ahead of release
‘Lawrence of Punjab’ banned: In a significant development, the Central Government has imposed a ban on the web series “Lawrence of Punjab”, which was scheduled for release later this month. The decision was communicated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to the Punjab and Haryana High Court during a hearing on Friday.
The matter reached the court after Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring filed a public interest litigation (PIL), seeking a stay on the release of the series. The petition raised concerns over the portrayal of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and the potential impact such content could have on society. During the proceedings, the Centre submitted its order confirming the ban on the series.
Earlier, the Punjab Police had also urged the Centre to stop the release. In a formal communication, the Special Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) flagged serious concerns about the show’s content. The letter stated that the series depicts the life of Bishnoi, including criminal incidents such as the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and traces his journey from a student leader to a prominent figure in organised crime.
Police officials argued that the series could glorify criminal activities and trigger negative reactions among different sections of society, particularly influencing young viewers.
The web series was slated to premiere on the OTT platform ZEE5 on April 27. However, following the Centre’s intervention, its release has now been put on hold.
- PTC NEWS
