MANSA, 23 June — A local court in Mansa has granted Balkaur Singh, father of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, time until July 1 to file his response in a case involving a controversial BBC documentary on the late artist. The directive was issued after Singh failed to submit his reply by the previously set deadline of June 23.
The matter stems from an application filed by the BBC World Service and two of its employees, challenging the maintainability of a civil suit lodged by Singh. In their plea presented on June 16, the respondents argued that the Mansa court lacks jurisdiction, claiming neither the cause of action nor territorial connection to the district.
Earlier, Singh had moved court seeking a stay on the airing of the documentary titled The Killing Call, which he said was produced without the family’s consent and could hurt their sentiments. Two episodes of the documentary — reportedly tracing the life, career, and death of Moosewala — were released on June 11, which marked the singer’s birth anniversary.
The court initially directed the BBC to file a reply by June 16, following which the issue of jurisdiction was raised by the organisation’s legal counsel. In response, the court sought a written statement from Balkaur Singh, which is now due on July 1.
Moosewala, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in his native village Jawaharke, in Mansa district — a killing that sparked widespread outrage and captured global headlines.
The legal battle now hinges not only on the question of content consent but also on whether the court in Mansa has the authority to adjudicate the matter.
Read more: Sidhu Moosewala’s Father Moves Court to Halt Documentary Screening
