An upcoming documentary series on dreaded gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has sparked controversy in Punjab, with political leaders and families of the victims calling for an immediate ban ahead of its premiere on April 27.
The new series titled ‘Lawrence Punjab’, which will be broadcast on ZEE5, is based on the life of Bishnoi who gained international fame for running a sprawling crime syndicate from behind bars.
Although he has been imprisoned since 2015, Bishnoi’s influence has expanded beyond his home state of Punjab, with his gang involved in high-profile assassinations such as that of Punjabi singer Shobhadeep Singh Sidhu alias Sidhu Moose Wala and politician Baba Siddique. The 33-year-old gangster is currently in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat. In September 2025, the Canadian government listed Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang as a terrorist entity.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Waring on Tuesday served a legal notice to the makers seeking a ban on docuseries, alleging that they glorify gang culture. Waring said he would also file a public interest litigation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the showing of the TV series, claiming that it was likely to create a dangerous impact on youth.
The father of murdered singer Moose Wala, Balkur Singh, also expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the docuseries. “There is no justification for exposing the life of someone linked to the extortion and murder of my son, especially since the family is still waiting for justice,” Belcourt told reporters in Mansa.
Moose Wala was shot dead by armed assailants in Jawaharki village of Mansa district on May 29, 2022. Canada-based gangster Goldie Brar, who was then a close aide of Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for Moose Wala’s killing in a Facebook post. Brar and Bishnoi are now said to have fallen out and are running rival gangs.
“The series depicts the life of a gangster, which raises fears. It is unfortunate that the entertainment world chose to make a series about a character that would cause panic in society,” Balkur said.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Arshdeep Singh Kler also sought a ban on the release of the series and questioned whether Punjab’s reputation was being defamed under a conspiracy. He added that through this series, an attempt is being made to show the world that the youth of Punjab are gangsters.
In response to the outcry, Zee5 and Riverland Entertainment defended the project as a social study directed by Raghav Dhar.
Earlier, Waring had condemned the series as an insult to “Punjabi, Punjabis and Punjabis”, saying that a region defined by the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, farmers and soldiers should never be associated with a criminal behind bars. “This will not only promote and glorify gang culture, it will be an insult to Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabis; the holy land of Gurus, Rishis and Birs will now be defined as a dreaded gangster,” he added.
Waring questioned the wisdom of the filmmakers in “promoting a culture of crime and violence.” He said: “This is not an artistic and entertainment work, but rather a criminal act to incite young people into the world of crime.”
The Congress leader also questioned the “silence” of the state and central government over this “blatant insult to Punjab”. In the legal notice, Waring wrote: “The description of the web series itself shows that it glorifies the life of a gangster which may amount to the promotion of illegal activities. The subject of the series is therefore not fictional in the abstract, but concerns a real individual associated with ongoing crime, thus attracting increased legal scrutiny.”
Moss Walla’s father also echoed Waring’s sentiments. “Politics has become increasingly dependent on criminal elements. The central government and the Punjab government have failed to combat the nuisance of drugs, criminals and gangsters,” he added.
Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Neil Garg denied accusations that the Bhagwant Man government was being lenient with criminals. “The AAP government has zero tolerance for organized crime and the state police have busted several gang units,” Garg said. He added that AAP does not approve the production of any film or web series that glorifies criminals.
Kaveri Das, head of Hindi business at Zee5, said the docuseries is “not about glorifying individuals” but aims to examine the “ecosystem” where student politics and media amplification intersect to form digital unions. “The show traces the journey of a criminal identity through the lens of culture, systems and vision,” say the show’s creators.
Adding to the demand for a ban is Bishnoi’s prison interview in 2023, as critics fear the series will once again sanitize the image of the criminal for public entertainment.
