Chandigarh, May 4: Punjab Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi has been targeted with death threats following the state’s recent intervention to block a web series trailer centered on incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Police authorities confirmed that the state’s top legal officer received two separate threatening messages, the most recent of which follows the halt of “Lawrence of Punjab,” a digital production allegedly glorifying criminal activities.
The threats are linked to a broader government crackdown on content that promotes gangster culture across digital platforms. Lawrence Bishnoi, the alleged inspiration for the series, remains in high-security confinement at the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, facing numerous charges including extortion and organized crime. The Centre recently directed the streaming platform ZEE5 to remove the trailer, citing its potential to exert a negative social influence on the youth.
“Police authorities have informed that Bedi has received two such threat messages — one earlier and another recently — raising concerns over his security amid the ongoing crackdown,” officials stated.
Security agencies affirmed that the threats are being taken seriously given the sensitive nature of the state’s ongoing efforts to curb organized crime networks. The directive to block the trailer was prompted by concerns that such media emboldens criminal groups and distorts public perception. Authorities maintained that the safety of judicial and legal officers remains a top priority during this period of heightened enforcement.
“Bedi has received two such threat messages… raising concerns over his security amid the ongoing crackdown,” officials declared in their report to the state.
