Gurugram (Gurpreet Singh): A viral video from a stand-up comedy show in Gurugram’s Cyber City has landed comedian Pranit More and an audience member in legal trouble, with Gurugram Police registering an FIR against More, web developer Himanshu Jangra and the owner of the comedy venue where the incident took place.
The FIR was registered at DLF Phase-2 Police Station following a complaint from the National Commission for Women (NCW) and a suo motu action by the police.
The controversy erupted after a clip from More’s crowd-work comedy segment went viral on social media. In the video, Himanshu Jangra, a 22-year-old web developer from Gurugram, narrated a story about a date during an interaction with the comedian.
According to police, Jangra made remarks suggesting that after spending money on a meal during a date, he expected physical intimacy in return. He also allegedly made comments about taking the woman to a secluded location, remarks that authorities described as objectionable and concerning.
Based on the complaint and preliminary assessment, police registered the FIR under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act and Sections 294, 353(3), 75(2) and 75(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Gurugram Police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar confirmed that notices have been issued to both Himanshu Jangra and comedian Pranit More, directing them to join the investigation. Authorities have also issued legal notices to social media platforms seeking the removal of the viral video.
The incident triggered widespread criticism on social media platforms, including Instagram and X. Amid the controversy, More’s employer, Starvik Design, announced the termination of his employment.
In a video statement, company founder Vivek Vishwakarma said the comments featured in the viral clips were objectionable and did not align with the company’s values. He added that the company did not wish such views to influence young audiences.
Following the backlash, Pranit More issued a public apology through an Instagram story. He acknowledged the criticism and admitted that he should have intervened when the remarks were made during the show.
More stated that the audience member’s comments did not reflect his personal views and confirmed that the video had been removed from circulation. He also said he would exercise greater responsibility and sensitivity while handling similar situations in the future.
Meanwhile, Himanshu Jangra released a clarification video claiming that while the woman mentioned in the story was a real person he had dated, portions of the narrative were exaggerated for entertainment purposes during the comedy show.
He admitted that some of the language and expressions used were inappropriate and apologised for them. Jangra also stated that he has always maintained professional and respectful relationships with women colleagues and did not intend to promote offensive behaviour.
The investigation is currently underway, and police are examining the circumstances surrounding the recording, publication and circulation of the viral video.
