'Lawrence Of Punjab' Row: P&H High Court Quashes Centre Advisory Against Movie's Release, Directs Change Of Title

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has set aside the Centre's advisory opposing the film's release, thereby clearing the way for its release. However, the Court directed that the title be altered, observing that it must not contain the words “Lawrence Bishnoi” or “Punjab,” to avoid misleading connotations.

Justice Jagmohan Bansal after watching the movie found that it is not about single gangster or about glorifying the gun culture but it is against it.

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

AG Punjab Maninderjit Singh Bedi submitted that such content increases the likelihood of youth and other impressionable individuals being influenced and potentially drawn towards criminal or gangster-related activities. The Intelligence Agency has  informed that the widespread availability of the impugned content on online platforms poses a significant and tangible risk to public order. The State Government has already blocked more than 2600 links glorifying Lawrence Bishnoi and gagster culture.

"Punjab, being a border State, is particularly sensitive to issues relating to illegal arms circulation, organised crime networks, and drug abuse, and any content that may glorify gangster culture or criminal networks poses a heightened risk in such a sensitive region. The depiction of such elements in the impugned documentary has the potential to instigate and influence impressionable youth, thereby exacerbating existing challenges and adversely impacting public order as well as the security of the State," the reply stated.

Senior Advocate Dhiraj Jain, appearing for the Union Government, submitted that the Centre was within its power to issue the advisory under the IT Act and that it has done so on several occasions in the past.

Inputs from central security agencies indicated that the glorification of crime through this movie could impact youngsters, and portraying the accused in the movie could also affect the witnesses and trial.

On the other hand, 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).

A detailed order is awaited.

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