The Centre has officially recommended ZEE5 not to publish its next docuseries, the Lawrence of Punjab, on the grounds that the material might end up glorifying a notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and could cause disturbance to the general population, officials knowledgeable of the case said.
In a hearing at the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday, another solicitor general Satya Pal Jain provided a letter the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had sent to the streaming platform. The communication stressed that OTTs should take due caution and discretion when producing or publishing biographical content or documentaries about persons who have engaged in criminal acts, especially when such depictions may encourage criminal or illegal acts.
The advisory also cited the comments of the Punjab Police, that cautioned that the show contains dramatized scenes, in addition to real-life footage that may inadvertently enhance the impact and reputation of organized crime. The officials were worried that this material can undermine the law and order status and affect young minds.
Following the position of the Centre, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring dropped his public interest litigation (PIL) which had requested a stay on the release. The docuseries, which previously was planned to debut on April 27, already came under legal and social investigation due to the fear that it would disrupt the social peace and indirectly romanticize crime.