Court seeks Balkaur Singh’s response on objections in documentary case, next hearing on July 1

June 24, 2025

A petition filed by Balkaur Singh, the father of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, regarding the BBC documentary ‘The Killing Call’ on the life and murder of his father was heard in the Mansa court on Monday.

However, Balkaur Singh did not file a response to the BBC’s objections. Duty Magistrate Additional Civil Judge Ankit Airi has given Balkaur Singh time till July 1 and has directed him to file a response in the next hearing. Balkaur Singh’s lawyer Satinder Pal Singh said that neither any arguments were held nor any additional directions were issued in Monday’s proceedings. The court accepted our word that we will file a response by the next date.

Petition filed on June 10

Balkaur Singh had filed this civil writ on June 10 against the BBC, journalist Ishleen Kaur and program producer Ankur Jain, in which objections were raised to the screening and release of the documentary. Advocate Balwant Bhatia, appearing for the BBC, said on Monday that in the previous hearing on June 16, it was objected that the petition was filed against BBC India, while the documentary was made by the UK-based BBC World Service.

BBC India has no role in the documentary

Advocate Bhatia told the court that BBC India had no role in the making of the documentary. Their role was limited to planning the screening in India. The documentary has been released on YouTube by BBC World Service and has been viewed globally on social media. Now the next hearing will be on July 1, in which Balkaur Singh has to file his response to the BBC’s objections