What started as a casual audience interaction at a stand-up comedy show has exploded into a nationwide scandal. Over the past week, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Instagram have been flooded with outrage over what is now known as the “₹370 Biryani” row.
The controversy has escalated far beyond internet backlash, resulting in a Maharashtra Cyber Police FIR, a corporate termination, and a formal intervention by the National Commission for Women (NCW).
Here is the complete, breakdown of the incident, the viral fallout, and the latest updates.
The Incident: What Happened on Stage?
The controversy began during a live crowd-work comedy show hosted by popular stand-up comedian Pranit More in Gurugram.
During the segment, a 23-year-old audience member named Himanshu Jangra (a web developer working in Gurugram) took the microphone to share a personal dating story:
- The Bill: Jangra narrated a date where he spent approximately ₹370 on a plate of chicken biryani for a woman.
- The “Punchline”: He stated that when the woman later asked to be dropped home, he told the comedian and the room: “Maine kaha 370 rupay lage hain, main wasool toh karunga” (I spent 370 rupees, I am going to get my money’s worth).
- The Escalation: In the unedited footage that surfaced later, Jangra went on to detail how he pressured the woman into a dark park and physically coerced her into a kiss and further physical intimacy despite her visible hesitation and reluctance.
The Reaction: Instead of shutting down the toxic remarks, the crowd cheered, and Pranit More laughed, calling it “Peak Gurgaon content,” even handing Jangra a cash prize for his audience participation. More later edited, subtitled, and uploaded the clip to his millions of subscribers.
Why It Caused Widespread Outrage
When the clip hit the internet, the backlash was swift and severe. Millions of netizens condemned the video for glorifying sexual coercion, financial entitlement, and a blatant disregard for women’s consent.
Critics pointed out that the joke reinforced a deeply dangerous patriarchal mindset: the belief that spending a trivial amount of money on a woman somehow titles a man to her body.
The Severe Fallout: FIR, Job Loss, and NCW Action
The real-world consequences for both Himanshu Jangra and Pranit More escalated within days:
1. Himanshu Jangra Fired from His Job
As the internet identified Jangra, his employer—Gurugram-based digital agency Starvik Design—came under massive public pressure. The company’s founder, Vivek Vishwakarma, released an official video announcing Jangra’s immediate termination.
“Let me be very clear, the statements shown in those clips are offensive… they certainly should not be influencing young minds,” Vishwakarma said, stating that while Jangra was professional at work, the company had to sever ties due to the severity of his off-duty actions.
2. Maharashtra Cyber Police Files an FIR
The Maharashtra Cyber Crime Police officially registered a First Information Report (FIR) against comedian Pranit More, Himanshu Jangra, and others under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act for publishing and distributing obscene and objectionable content online.
3. National Commission for Women (NCW) Steps In
The NCW took suo motu cognisance of the matter. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote to the Haryana Director General of Police demanding swift action. Both Pranit More and Himanshu Jangra have been served official notices to appear before the Commission on June 22, 2026.
The Public Apologies: “Improvised for Entertainment”
Following the legal and professional hammer, both men took to Instagram to issue apologies:
- Pranit More: The comedian deactivated his Instagram temporarily before releasing a video admitting he got “carried away” and made a massive mistake by giving a platform to derogatory remarks instead of stopping the individual.
- Himanshu Jangra: Jangra released a joint video on his company’s handle, admitting he used inappropriate words but claimed parts of the story were “improvised and exaggerated” purely to get laughs in a dark humor setting.
Quick Facts
| Key Detail | Information |
| The Core Incident | A man claimed spending ₹370 on a biryani date entitled him to sexual favors. |
| Main Individuals | Himanshu Jangra (Audience member) & Pranit More (Comedian) |
| Consequences for Jangra | Terminated from his job at Starvik Design; deactivated social media. |
| Legal Status | FIR registered by Maharashtra Cyber Police; NCW summons issued for June 22, 2026. |
| Connected Row | The backlash exposed another clip from the same show featuring medical student Sejal Pawar making crude remarks about cadavers. |
The “₹370 Biryani” incident has ignited a massive cultural reckoning in India regarding the boundaries of stand-up comedy, the accountability of content creators, and how easily everyday misogyny is packaged and sold as entertainment.
