New Delhi, 27 April (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has ruled that the documentary series “Lawrence of Punjab” on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi cannot be released as long as the Central government’s order blocking its release remains in force. A Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav disposed of the plea, noting that unless the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s advisory is set aside, the makers and the OTT platform will not be in a position to launch the show.

During the hearing, OTT platform Zee5, represented by senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, told the Court that the Union government has advised the company not to go ahead with the release of the biographical‑style series. The Bench observed that since the Centre’s directive is still operative, there was no further relief available for the petitioner and the matter could be closed “in view of the advisories issued by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.”

The controversy over the series was triggered after Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring filed a plea before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking an urgent stay on the release of “Lawrence of Punjab.” The Punjab Police had earlier voiced apprehensions that the documentary could be prejudicial to public order, leading the Central government to issue an advisory directing Zee5 not to release it. After noting the Centre’s communication, the Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of Warring’s petition, and the Delhi High Court similarly concluded proceedings on Bishnoi’s own petition challenging the show’s release.

Content of the documentary

Zee5 has described “Lawrence of Punjab” as a biographical‑style series tracing how Bishnoi rose from a student to a political figure and later a gang leader, with an emphasis on the “power” he exerts from behind bars. The Central government’s advisory, passed after evaluating concerns from the Punjab Police and the Punjab government, argues that broadcasting such dramatised content on alleged gangsters risks glorifying organised crime and influencing youth, and therefore urges OTT platforms to exercise caution before releasing similar productions.

In practical terms, the Delhi High Court’s order means that “Lawrence of Punjab” will remain withheld on Zee5 indefinitely until the Centre revokes or modifies its blocking directive, leaving the future of the documentary tied to the fate of that executive‑level advisory.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar