Lawrence Bishnoi’s cousin demands ban on ZEE5 Hindi docuseries Lawrence Of Punjab
Lawrence of Punjab, an upcoming Hindi ZEE5 docuseries, has encountered legal challenges. Prior to its launch, the Punjab police requested a ban by formally addressing the matter with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). The state police sent a letter to Special Director General of Police (Cyber Crime), V. Neeraja, expressing concerns regarding the content of the docuseries. As indicated by the title, it revolves around Lawrence Bishnoi, a convicted individual. The Punjab police raised objections to , asserting that it ‘glorifies’ organized crime. In this context, Lawrence’s cousin, Ramesh Bishnoi, sought a ban on the series, claiming the family did not authorize the creators.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s cousin seeks ban on Lawrence Of Punjab
In an interview with ANI, Ramesh stated that the Bishnoi family strongly opposes the docuseries purportedly inspired by Lawrence. Referring to Punjab as the ‘land of gurus and warriors’, he questioned director Raghav Darr about who granted permission to use Lawrence’s name in connection with the upcoming project. “Na parivar se permission hai, na sarkar se permission hai. Aise banake voh kya saabit karna chahte hai? (Neither did the family permit nor the government. What do you want to prove by making such a docuseries?),” Ramesh inquired.
A still from Lawrence Of Punjab
He further mentioned that the case is still ongoing and when the family was approached regarding the project on Lawrence, they clearly denied permission. “Court mein joh nirnay aayega, uske baad baat karenge (After the court announces its verdict, we shall discuss),” Bishnoi stated, adding, “Abhi court mein case chal raha hai aur gangster dikha rahe hai.Parivaar ko objection hai ispe (Court cases are still ongoing, and he is being portrayed as a gangster. The family objects to this).”
Bishnoi also informed the news agency that the Punjab police and officials are advocating for a ban on Lawrence of Punjab. He remarked, “Mujhe media se pata chala hai ki High Court tak jaane ki tayyari hai, toh main toh maang kar raha hu ki High Court and Supreme Court se ki turant ban lag jaye (I learned through the media that the High Court might get involved in this. I am requesting the High Court and Supreme Court to impose a ban immediately).” He concluded by expressing regret that such projects portray Punjab in a negative manner.
What is Lawrence Of Punjab?
According to the official synopsis, Lawrence of Punjab explores the evolution of a criminal identity through the lens of culture, systems, and visibility. From student politics and music to ideology and media amplification, the series examines how aspiration, power, and perception converge to form a modern digital syndicate. With Lawrence Bishnoi as a significant case study within this framework, the narrative extends beyond the individual to investigate the broader cultural and social context, emphasizing consequences.
The docuseries is set to premiere on Hindi ZEE5 on April 27.
