HC directs removal of 'Lawrence' and 'Punjab' from ZEE5 docu-series title

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, hearing Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd's plea, set aside the Centre's advisory against the release and directed the docu-series makers to remove references to 'Lawrence' and 'Punjab' from the title. The bench of Justice Jagmohan Bansal observed that the series did not appear to glorify any individual and had watched the docu-series before delivering the ruling.

The show 'Lawrence of Punjab' was to be released on ZEE5 on April 27, 2026. Makers described the series as tracing the journey of a criminal identity through culture, systems and visibility, and treating Lawrence Bishnoi as a case study within the ecosystem of student politics, music, ideology and media amplification.

The Punjab government reported that over 2,600 videos and social media posts glorifying gangster culture had been removed, in relation to the advisory context.

Punjab Police informed the Centre about the sensitivity of gangster-related issues in Punjab and the potential for the content to evoke strong public reactions, contributing to the advisory's rationale.

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory not to release the docu-series after Punjab Police flagged concerns that its release could pose a significant risk to public order. The advisory noted dramatised portrayals and real-life footage that could glorify organised crime and asked OTT platforms to exercise caution.