The Supreme Court of India has asked the Haryana and Maharashtra governments to respond to the controversy surrounding stand-up comedian Pranit More’s crowd work in Gurugram in June 2026, according to medianama.com. The court was hearing More’s plea to club FIRs filed by police in both states related to a viral video from his show.
During the live show, an audience member, Himanshu Jangra, joked about expecting sexual favors in return for spending Rs. 370 on biryani. More responded by calling it “peak Gurugram content” and gave Jangra Rs. 5,000 as a prize. The video clip went viral and sparked the #biryaniisnotconsent campaign. Jangra was subsequently fired by his employer, and More apologized and deleted the video. FIRs were registered by Maharashtra Cyber Police and Gurugram Police following complaints, including one from the National Commission for Women.
The case raises questions about online free speech and the regulation of content on digital platforms. The Supreme Court’s involvement highlights the legal challenges comedians and content creators face when their work intersects with public sensitivities and social movements. The plea to club FIRs aims to avoid multiple investigations over the same incident, reflecting broader concerns about policing online expression.
The Supreme Court’s next hearing will consider the responses from the Haryana and Maharashtra governments. The case is significant for setting precedents on how online content and individual expression are treated under Indian law, especially in the context of viral social media incidents.