'Lawrence Of Punjab' Row: High Court Seeks Centre, State's Response On Zee's Plea Alleging "Pre-Publication Restraint On Speech"

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought responses from the Punjab Government and the Union Government on a writ petition filed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd challenging communications advising it not to release a documentary titled “Lawrence of Punjab” on its OTT platform, ZEE5.

The matter was heard by Justice Jagmohan Bansal, which issued notice on the plea and sought replies of Centre and Punjab Government.

Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi submitted that the State is against Gangster culture and it has already blocked over 2600 links relating to videos of Lawrence Bishnoi glorifying crime.

The petition arises from communications dated April 23 and April 24, 2026, issued by authorities advising the ZEE5 against releasing the web series “Lawrence of Punjab” based on life of Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, which was scheduled to premiere on April 27. 

The petitioner contended that impugned communications, particularly the latter, effectively restrained the release without citing statutory backing or following due process.

Earlier, on April 24, the High Court had disposed of a PIL seeking an urgent stay on the web series after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting advised ZEE5 against its release. The Court had then recorded that the Punjab Government had written to the Centre on April 22 requesting it to block access to the trailer and prevent release of the series.

Appearing for the Union, Additional Solicitor General Satyapal Jain had informed the Court that the Ministry advised against release based on inputs from Punjab Police citing apprehensions of disturbance to public order.

Zee Entertainment has argued that the State's action amounts to an unlawful pre-publication restraint on its right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

The petitioner maintains that the documentary is a factual and analytical work based entirely on material already available in the public domain, including news reports and archival footage. It does not glorify or incite criminal activity, and the State's concerns are based on speculative apprehensions without any proximate nexus to public order.

The plea further asserts that public order cannot be invoked on conjecture or anticipated reactions, and restrictions on speech must fall strictly within the grounds enumerated under Article 19(2).

The State has maintained that such content has the potential to adversely impact youth and disturb public order. In its communication to the Centre, Punjab had flagged that audio-visual content on OTT platforms has a wide reach and can influence impressionable minds, increasing the risk of glorification of criminal activities.

The earlier PIL was filed by Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring through Advocate Nikhil Ghai. The plea argued that portraying the rise and influence of a real-life gangster could glamorize crime and disrupt societal harmony, particularly in a sensitive state like Punjab.

Taking note of the submissions in the present petition, the High Court has now issued notice and sought responses from the Punjab Government and the Union Government.

The matter is now adjourned to May 11.

Title: ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LIMITED V/S UNION OF INDIA