Comedian Pranit More and audience member Himanshu Jangra were booked by the Gurugram Police for allegedly objectionable content posted online from a comedy show recorded in Haryana, The Indian Express reported.
A case has been registered against the two for allegedly publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form, making statements conducing to public mischief and sexual harassment by making sexually-coloured remarks, the newspaper reported. The police also sent requests to social media platforms to remove the content.
More and Jangra were also booked by the Maharashtra Police in the matter on June 11.
The cases were filed after a video was widely shared online in which Jangra expressed entitlement to physical intimacy in return for spending Rs 370 for a biryani on a date with a woman. He had also claimed to have pressured the woman to accompany him to a “dark” park despite her repeated reluctance.
Jangra was part of the audience in an episode of a comedy show hosted by More. Video clips of the episode had been widely shared on social media.
The views expressed on the show had led to criticism online.
Jangra had been sacked from his job after the video of his comments was widely shared online.
On June 11, the National Commission for Women had taken cognisance of the matter and directed the Haryana Police chief to take action in the matter for “remarks allegedly glorifying sexual coercion”. More and Jangra were summoned by the panel on June 22.
The panel said that it was concerned about the content of the video and the “manner in which the alleged conduct was trivialised and presented as entertainment before a public audience”.
On Saturday, More issued an apology. He said that he had gotten carried away during the live recording and deserved the backlash he had received.
Jangra also apologised for his comments on Sunday. He said that parts of the story he had narrated were “improvised” for entertainment. “I did not have any such intention or mindset,” he added.
Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.
Also read: Mumbai hospital sends student Sejal Pawar on forced 15-day leave over cadaver remarks on comedy show
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!