Chandigarh, April 23: The Punjab Police has formally approached the Central Government to request a ban on the web series ‘Lawrence of Punjab’. In a letter addressed to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Special DGP of Cyber Crime asserted that the series could jeopardize the law and order situation in the state and harm broader social interests.
Scheduled for release on April 27 on the OTT platform ZEE5, the series reportedly depicts the life of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Investigators stated that the narrative tracks his transition from a student leader to a central figure in organized crime, including depictions of high-profile incidents such as the murder of Sidhu Moosewala. Officials declared that such content glorifies criminal activity and could have a detrimental influence on the younger generation.
The police department has also moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to seek a prohibition on the series under Section 69A (1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This legal provision allows for the blocking of public access to online content in the interest of state security and public order.
The Punjab Congress has joined the opposition to the release, with state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring filing a public interest litigation in the High Court. The letter from the Cyber Crime division maintained that there is a strong negative reaction from various sections of society, which could escalate into widespread protests if the promotional content and series are not restricted.
