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The gangster’s own family, politicians, police, and even the state government, slammed the OTT series for potentially glorifying criminality and fueling gang culture
Punjab Police Flag ‘Lawrence of Punjab’, Cite Crime Glorification, Public Impact Concerns.
Lawrence of Punjab, a new documentary series that was set to release next eek, has ignited backlash in Punjab, with calls to ban it. The series revolves around the life of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, infamous for his alleged role in high-profile crimes like the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. The gangster’s own family, politicians, police, and even the state government, slammed it for potentially glorifying criminality and fueling gang culture among the youth.
The Government of India has moved swiftly to ban ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ that was scheduled to be released on OTT platform ZEE5 on April 27, citing fears that it could incite violence and romanticise underworld figures. This clampdown comes amid rising tensions, as the trailer’s release last week triggered protests and legal threats.
What Is Lawrence of Punjab?
Lawrence of Punjab is a docuseries that was set to stream on an OTT platform, blending elements of power, Punjabi music culture, and organised crime. It spotlights Lawrence Bishnoi, a Rajasthan-based gangster with deep ties to Punjab’s underworld, portraying his rise through extortion rackets, gang rivalries, and sensational hits.
Produced independently, the series gives an unfiltered look at Bishnoi’s world, drawing parallels to global true-crime hits. However, its focus on his “larger-than-life” persona, complete with celebrity endorsements from Punjabi artists, has raised eyebrows before it even premieres.
What Is The Row Around Lawrence Of Punjab?
The controversy erupted soon after the trailer dropped, pulling in a wide cast of opponents. Ramesh Bishnoi, Lawrence’s cousin and a vocal family defender, led the charge by demanding a nationwide ban, arguing the series twists facts, defames their clan, and could provoke real-world reprisals. Punjab Police echoed this, warning it glamourises gangs and might inspire copycat crimes in a state already battling organised crime.
Political voices piled on too as Congress leaders like Amrinder Singh Raja Warring blasted it as “gangster propaganda” unfit for public viewing, urging central intervention. Sidhu Moose Wala’s family and fans, still grieving his killing which Bishnoi reportedly claimed, flooded social media with outrage, calling it an insult to victims. Even Sikh bodies and local influencers decried the soundtrack’s hero-worship vibes, fearing it normalises violence in pop culture.
Why Has Lawrence Of Punjab Been Banned Now?
The Government of India pulled the trigger on a ban after the row escalated into potential law-and-order risks. Officials invoked legal provisions against content that promotes enmity or glorifies offenders, issuing directives to OTT services to block it. This came following a petition filed by Congress’s Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. The government told the court that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had taken action against the series after examining the facts.
Warring had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state police formally seeking a ban on the docuseries.
The government told court that the Ministry reviewed the material and subsequently imposed a ban on the series.
April 24, 2026, 14:01 IST
