The Union government has stepped in to halt the planned release of “Lawrence of Punjab,” advising OTT platform ZEE5 to refrain from streaming the content, citing potential threats to law and order. The directive follows concerns raised by the Punjab Police and comes amid ongoing legal scrutiny in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In an official communication dated April 24, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting flagged apprehensions that the series—reportedly based on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi—could disrupt public order. Authorities noted that the portrayal of criminal figures in a dramatized format may risk encouraging unlawful behavior or influencing impressionable audiences.
The advisory was issued in the context of a public interest litigation filed by Punjab Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who has sought judicial intervention to block the series. The petition argues that the show could glorify crime and present a distorted narrative that might adversely impact social stability, particularly in Punjab.
During court proceedings, the Centre referred to earlier judicial observations discouraging the glamorisation of criminal activities in media content. Legal representatives, including Additional Solicitor-General Satya Pal Jain, placed the government’s position before a Bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu.
The ministry’s note also recalled a prior advisory issued in October 2025, reinforcing its stance on responsible content dissemination. It urged the platform to act prudently and avoid releasing material that could incite violence or disturb communal harmony.
The series, which reportedly traces the rise of Bishnoi from student politics to alleged involvement in organized crime, has drawn criticism from both political figures and law enforcement agencies. Critics argue that such narratives risk normalising criminal lifestyles and could create an aspirational image among younger viewers.
With the matter now under judicial consideration, the final decision on the series’ release is expected to depend on further directions from the High Court.
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