BBC told to file reply by June 16 in Sidhu Moosewala documentary case

The Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) today heard a plea filed by Balkaur Singh, father of slain singer Shubhdeep Singh, aka Sidhu Moosewala, seeking a stay on a documentary made on the singer’s life and death.

The court directed the BBC to file a formal response to the petition by the next hearing on June 16.

Notably, the BBC released two parts of the documentary, titled “The Killing Call”, on YouTube at 5 am on Wednesday, coinciding with Moosewala’s 32nd birth anniversary. The documentary was initially scheduled to be screened in Mumbai later that evening.

Advocate Satinder Pal Singh Mittal, counsel for Moosewala’s father, said, “The counsel for the respondents (BBC World Service and the two producers) sought time from the court to respond.”

Balkaur Singh has already served a legal notice to the broadcaster and lodged complaints with the Maharashtra Police, alleging that the documentary contains unauthorised and sensitive content, including personal testimonies and commentary on an ongoing criminal case. In response to the legal notice, the BBC’s legal team had sought 10 days to reply.

Moosewala was shot on May 29, 2022, at Jawaharke village, near Mansa. His family released his three songs on his official YouTube channel yesterday. All three tracks have gone viral online.