‘Rs 370 Biryani’ Controversy: Pranit More Seeks Clubbing Of FIRs In Supreme Court

More’s petition impleads the Union of India and the States of Maharashtra and Haryana. The matter is likely to be listed before the Supreme Court on September 21.

The controversy arose after an audience member, Himanshu Jangra, made a misogynistic remark during More’s stand-up comedy show, suggesting that he expected sexual intimacy in return for spending Rs 370 on chicken during a date.

More laughed along with the audience and responded to the remark by calling it “peak Gurugram content.” The exchange subsequently attracted criticism online for allegedly trivialising consent and sexual intimacy.

Following the backlash, Jangra reportedly lost his job. The Maharashtra Cyber Police registered an FIR against More, Jangra and another person under Sections 75, 294, 353 and 354 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.

More was also summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW), which had taken cognizance of the viral video and sought action against those involved. The Commission said the remarks made during the show appeared to glorify coercive behaviour and undermine the principle of consent.

The FIR has invoked Section 67 of the IT Act, as well as Sections 294, 353(3), 75(2), and 75(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The controversy stems from an audience interaction during one of More's recent performances in Gurugram. During the exchange, Jangra, a tech professional attending the show, recounted an incident involving a woman he had taken on a date. According to the account shared during the performance, he had spent Rs 370 on a chicken biryani and later expected sexual favours from the woman when she asked him to drop her home.

A video clip of the interaction soon began circulating on social media, drawing sharp criticism from users who accused Jangra of normalising sexual coercion and displaying a disturbing attitude towards women. The backlash quickly expanded beyond the audience member's remarks, with many questioning More's conduct during the exchange.

Critics alleged that the comedian amplified the objectionable comments by laughing along during the interaction and later sharing the clip online. The video sparked a wider conversation about the responsibility of performers during crowd-work segments and whether certain remarks can be brushed aside as comedy.

As outrage mounted, the NCW stepped into the matter and sought intervention by law enforcement authorities. The Commission subsequently summoned those involved and pressed for action, stating that the comments appearing in the viral clip were not only offensive but also contrary to the principles of dignity and consent.

Following the Commission's intervention, Gurugram Police registered an FIR against More and Jangra.

The latest case adds to the legal troubles arising from the controversy, as the Maharashtra Cyber Cell has already registered a separate FIR against More, Jangra and others in connection with the same incident.

The row has continued to snowball since the clip first surfaced online, drawing reactions from social media users, activists and women's rights groups. Several organisations have staged protests against More, demanding accountability and arguing that content which trivialises consent should not be defended as entertainment.

Facing intense public criticism, both More and Jangra have issued public apologies.

In a video statement, More admitted that he should have intervened during the audience interaction instead of allowing the exchange to continue. The comedian said he had been "carried away" by the crowd's reaction and acknowledged that his handling of the situation amounted to a "lapse in judgment". He apologised to those who were offended by the incident and accepted responsibility for not responding appropriately at the time.

Jangra also apologised after the controversy escalated online. However, the backlash against him extended beyond social media criticism. Reports indicated that he lost his job after the video went viral and attracted nationwide attention.