Maharashtra Cyber has filed an FIR against stand-up comedian Pranit More in connection with the recent controversy surrounding his Gurugram show. FIRs have also been filed against Himanshu Jangra, Dr Sejal Pawar and other people involved in the row. As reported by the news agency ANI, FIR has been registered at the Nodal Cyber Police Station under sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 294 and 353(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 r/w 67 Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, against stand-up comedian Pranit, Himanshu, Dr Sejal and others. They have been accused of making alleged obscene, offensive and objectionable remarks concerning women, consent and deceased persons.
According to Maharashtra Cyber, it has also been alleged that the viral content was recorded, promoted, published and disseminated through various digital and social media platforms in connection with the programme hosted by Pranit More, with the apparent objective of increasing viewership, audience engagement and deriving financial and commercial gains through online monetisation and other revenue-generating activities.
Summons have also been issued to Pranit More, Himanshu Jangra and Dr Sejal Pawar. They have been asked to appear before the Maharashtra Cyber to record their statements. Further investigation is underway.
The controversy began during one of Pranit More’s live shows when audience member Himanshu Jangra was invited into a conversation. During the interaction, Jangra spoke about taking a woman out on a date and spending around Rs 370 on biryani. However, what sparked outrage was his suggestion that because he had paid for the meal, he expected intimacy in return. Many viewers who later watched the clip accused Jangra of treating dating like a transaction and reducing a woman to something that could be “earned" in exchange for money spent on a meal.
