NEW DELHI: Stand-up comedian Pranit More has issued a public apology following the controversy over the viral ‘Rs 370 biryani’ remark made during one of his comedy shows, saying he made a ‘serious mistake’ by allowing derogatory comments to be made on stage and failing to intervene.In a video posted on Instagram, More acknowledged the criticism he has faced since the clip went viral and admitted that he should have stopped the remarks at the time.“You may have seen the video for which I have been receiving a lot of criticism, and I believe I deserve it. Several derogatory remarks were made in that video. At the time, everyone around was laughing, and I got carried away. It was a lapse in judgement on my part, and I believe it was a serious mistake,” he said.More admitted that he could have stopped the conversation or taken a stand during the show.“I could have stopped it there or taken a stand, but I failed to do so. By giving it a platform, I contributed to the situation escalating the way it did,” he said.The comedian apologised to those who were offended by the incident and said he was cooperating with authorities in connection with the case.“I want to sincerely apologise to everyone who was hurt because of this. I am also cooperating with the authorities in relation to any legal proceedings against me,” More said.Seeking another chance from his audience, he added, “I would just like to request one thing from all of you — please give me one chance. I will prove that I can become a better person. This has been a learning experience for me as well. I am working on improving myself and I will also work on my content. I hope you will be able to see that change reflected in my work in the future.”The controversy erupted after a crowd-work segment from More’s show in Gurugram went viral on social media. During the interaction, audience member Himanshu Jangra recounted a dating experience and claimed that after spending Rs 370 on a plate of chicken biryani for a woman, he sought sexual favours in return when she later asked him to drop her home. The remark triggered widespread outrage, with many social media users criticising both Jangra and More for laughing during the exchange rather than objecting to it.The controversy has also attracted legal scrutiny. Maharashtra Cyber Police recently registered a case against More, Jangra and others over allegedly disseminating “obscene and objectionable” content on social media. Authorities said the viral clips contained remarks concerning women, consent and deceased persons that violated public decency.According to police, one of the clips featured Jangra making comments that suggested entitlement to physical intimacy in exchange for money spent during a date, while another clip from the same show allegedly contained derogatory remarks about medical cadavers.Summons have been issued to More, Jangra and Dr Sejal Pawar to appear before Maharashtra Cyber for questioning and to record their statements. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and sought action from Haryana Police.
Do you think the viral video has raised awareness about consent?