Ramesh Bishnoi, cousin of Lawrence Bishnoi, has publicly condemned the upcoming docuseries ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ and called for its immediate prohibition. Speaking to ANI, he criticized director Raghav Darr for producing the series without securing permission from the family or government. “Punjab is the land of Gurus. With whose permission has the director created this series? No permission from family or government. What does he aim to prove through it? The cases are still under trial in court. We object to the series, and it should be banned,” said Ramesh Bishnoi.
Earlier, the Punjab Police formally requested the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to block public access to the documentary, which is set to premiere on 27 April via the OTT platform ZEE5. In an official letter from Special Director General of Police (Cyber Crime), V. Neeraja, the state police expressed serious concerns about the content. The documentary reportedly details the life and criminal activities of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, including dramatized sequences and references to high-profile crimes such as the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
The authorities fear the series may “glorify and simplify organized crime,” potentially influencing young audiences by normalizing or romanticising criminal behaviour. The police also cautioned that the series could undermine ongoing law enforcement efforts and disrupt public order within Punjab.
The request for blocking the series was submitted under Section 69A(1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and relevant provisions of the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009. The Punjab Police urged ZEE5 to desist from streaming the series and to remove the trailer globally.
Officials noted that internet-based content reaches a wide audience and carries significant influence, particularly due to its audiovisual format, which makes it more accessible and impactful among impressionable viewers.
In response, the makers of ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ issued a press note stating that the series “traces the journey of a criminal through the lens of culture, identity systems, and visibility. From student politics and music to ideology and media amplification, the series pieces together how aspiration, power, and perception intersect to shape a new-age digital syndicate. With Lawrence Bishnoi as a key case study within this ecosystem, the narrative expands beyond the individual to examine the larger cultural and social context, focusing on consequences.”
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