Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cyber Police have filed a complaint against stand-up comedian Pranit More in the wake of his viral “₹370 biryani” comment on a stand-up comedy stage. As a result, the incident has ignited outrage in the social media space and the conversation about consent, misogyny, and what public figures should and should not do.

The outrage started after a segment of More’s crowd-work session spread widely on the internet. The video features an audience member explaining how during a date he spent ₹370 on a biryani and then anticipated a “return” on that expenditure. The remark received widespread condemnation for reportedly fostering a problematic mindset pertaining to consent and relationships.

When the video was circulated on social media, thousands of users attacked the statement and asked why the comment was left unchallenged on the show. The outcry soon began to escalate, with several figures of public persona and people who post on Facebook and other social networking sites demanding that the individuals with the video be taken more seriously and also for the use of it to educate people on its merits or at least to prevent it from gaining ground.

Police now have a case filed as a matter with Maharashtra Cyber Police, and they have commenced with an overview of the "viral" nature of the content. Reports indicated officials are investigating what was happening in relation to the recording, dissemination and reverberations about the video.

The issue itself is also receiving the focus of the National Commission for Women (NCW), who, in various reports, made suo motu cognizance of it. The commission and the comedian Pranit More, among others linked to the incident, have called for action by local authorities.

Pranit More issued a public apology in the midst of the criticism. The backlash, though, went on — prompting the comedian to reportedly deactivate his Instagram account.

At the same time, the controversy has ignited a nationwide discussion over consent and accountability. Even Mumbai Police participated in a conversation via a viral post on social media stressing that the money spent on a meal does not give an individual the right to intimacy or consent. The post attracted wide circulation on the internet.

And as investigations pick, it’s one of the most discussed topics on Indian social media, challenging how we define comedy and free speech and social responsibility in the digital era.