Ramesh Bishnoi, the cousin of infamous gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has publicly opposed the upcoming docuseries titled 'Lawrence of Punjab'. He has demanded a ban on the show ahead of its scheduled release. The Punjab Police has also approached the authorities to block the series, citing serious concerns over its content and potential impact on ongoing investigations.
Ramesh Bishnoi's Strong Objection
In a conversation with ANI, Ramesh Bishnoi criticized the series, questioning the permissions obtained for its production. He stated that neither the family nor the government was consulted before the production began. Expressing worry over the timing, he highlighted that several cases related to Lawrence Bishnoi are still under trial in court. Ramesh Bishnoi made his position clear, saying, “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.”
Punjab Police's Action
Reportedly, the Punjab Police has formally approached the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Special Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) V Neeraja issued an official letter requesting the blocking of public access to the series. The department warned that the content could interfere with ongoing investigations and adversely affect law and order in the state. The police letter highlighted the risks of glorifying organized crime, noting that the series includes dramatized depictions of major incidents, including the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Authorities noted that digital content reaches a wider and more impressionable audience easily, and they filed the request under Section 69A(1) of the Information Technology Act 2000, urging ZEE5 to remove the trailer worldwide.
Makers' Statement on the Series
As reported by ANI, the makers described the project as an exploration of criminal identity. It examines student politics, music, ideology, and media amplification using Lawrence Bishnoi as a case study. 'Lawrence of Punjab' is a Hindi documentary directed by Raghav Darr, scheduled to premiere on April 27.
