Chandigarh (National Times): In a controversial move, the BBC World Service released a two-part documentary titled “The Killing Call” on June 11, coinciding with the birth anniversary of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, despite strong opposition from the singer’s family.
The documentary, which investigates the life and assassination of Moose Wala, was published on YouTube even as his father, Balkaur Singh Sidhu, filed a legal petition in the Mansa district court seeking a stay on its screening. The matter is set to be heard on June 12, but by then, the content will have already gone public.
Balkaur Singh, who also filed complaints with the Maharashtra DGP and Juhu Police, accused the BBC of releasing the film without family consent and attempting to distort Moose Wala’s legacy. “We objected to the documentary, and the release is without our consent,” he told India Today, confirming plans to escalate the matter to the High Court.
Originally planned for a cinema screening in Juhu, Mumbai, the BBC quietly shifted the release to YouTube amid growing backlash. The documentary features interviews with close associates of Moose Wala, senior journalists, police officials, and even an audio call with fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, who claimed responsibility for the singer’s May 29, 2022, murder in Jawahar Ke, Punjab.
The BBC’s video description claims the film investigates not just the killing but also Moose Wala’s meteoric rise, his entanglement with criminal networks, and the unanswered questions surrounding his death.
The release came just hours ahead of another significant tribute, an EP of unreleased songs by Moose Wala released by his family. Supporters online called the BBC’s move “insensitive” and “poorly timed,” accusing the broadcaster of undermining the family’s emotional tribute to cash in on the controversy.
