Gurugram Web Developer Fired After Controversial Comments About Dating Entitlement Go Viral
A 22-year-old web developer, Himanshu Jangra, was fired from his Gurugram job after a viral clip from comedian Pranit More's show showed him implying that spending ₹370 on a woman's biryani entitled him to sexual favors. His employer, Starvik Design founder Vivek Vishwakarma, confirmed the termination was a business decision after the backlash damaged the company's client relationships and online presence. Maharashtra Cybercrime police subsequently registered an FIR against More, Jangra, and others, while the National Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance and summoned both men for a hearing on June 22.
The controversy began when a crowdwork clip from comedian Pranit More's stand-up show went viral, featuring audience member Himanshu Jangra recounting a date and stating he expected physical intimacy in return for the ₹370 he spent on chicken biryani. More laughed along rather than challenging the remark, drawing criticism alongside Jangra; both subsequently issued public apologies. Starvik Design founder Vivek Vishwakarma told NDTV the termination was explicitly a business decision, as the backlash flooded the company's social media pages, caused two prospective clients to withdraw, and disrupted daily operations — though he also noted that internal reviews found no workplace misconduct by Jangra and urged society to leave room for reflection and change. Maharashtra Cybercrime police registered an FIR on June 11 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act against More, Jangra, and others, including a separate audience member, Dr. Sejal Pawar, whose own controversial comments on a different episode of More's show were bundled into the same case. The National Commission for Women wrote to the Haryana DGP demanding an FIR and called for a detailed action-taken report within seven days, scheduling a hearing for June 22. The incident has broadened into a national conversation about consent education, transactional attitudes in dating culture, and the responsibilities of comedians when audience members make misogynistic remarks, with experts and comedians across India weighing in on where the line between free expression and harm lies.
What's missing
The articles do not clarify the current legal status or bail situation of those named in the FIR, nor whether Haryana police (where the show took place) have separately registered a case as requested by the NCW — the FIR reported is from Maharashtra Cybercrime, a different jurisdiction.
How coverage differed
All outlets covered the core facts consistently, but NDTV provided the most granular, interview-based account of the employer's reasoning — explicitly surfacing that the firing was a 'business decision' — while Times of India and Hindustan Times framed the story more through the lens of social media reaction and celebrity commentary. Deutsche Welle contextualized the incident within India's broader crime-against-women statistics, giving it a structural framing absent from the Indian outlets.
What different sources said
- Times of IndiaCenter
'Rs 370 Biryani' row: FIR against Pranit More, others for objectionable content online
- The Indian ExpressCenter
After the Rs 370 biryani row, a female doctor’s joke on Pranit More’s show under scanner
- Hindustan TimesCenter
Amid Pranit More biryani and female doctor row, Malti Chahar clarifies she is not ‘obligated’ to comment on every issue | Hindustan Times
- Telegraph IndiaCenter
‘What are we laughing at?’: Kolkata comedians debate limits after ‘Rs 370 vasooli biryani’ row
- The HinduCenter
Maharashtra police register case against comedian Pranit More, others over ‘₹370 biryani’ remark
- NDTVCenter
Case Registered Against Comedian, Man Behind Rs 370 Ki Biryani' Row
- Deutsche WelleCenter
India news: 'Biryani date' controversy sparks debate on consent and entitlement
Related
David Hockney, Celebrated British Artist, Dies at 88
British artist David Hockney has died at the age of 88, prompting reflection on his prolific career and his final creative years spent in Normandy, France. Known for his iconic California swimming pool paintings, Hockney spent the Covid-19 lockdowns in rural France, producing 220 iPad drawings that were exhibited as a 91-metre-long frieze at the Musée de L'Orangerie in Paris. His death marks the loss of one of the most influential and technically adventurous artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
America at 250: Conservative Voices Debate the State of Higher Education and Shared Culture
Two opinion pieces published ahead of America's 250th anniversary argue that foundational American ideals are under threat — one focusing on the ideological drift of universities away from merit and civic education, the other on the erosion of a common national culture that once bridged class divides. Both pieces are written from a conservative perspective and appear in right-leaning outlets. The arguments reflect a broader debate about what American institutions should preserve or restore as the nation marks a major milestone.
North Melbourne Holds On for One-Point Win Over West Coast as Waterman Hits the Post in Final Seconds
North Melbourne defeated West Coast Eagles 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) at Optus Stadium on Saturday, with Eagles forward Jake Waterman hitting the post from a set shot with 42 seconds remaining. The Kangaroos led by 20 points early in the final quarter before West Coast kicked the last three goals in a dramatic fightback driven by Jobe Shanahan. The result leaves West Coast at 4-10 heading into the bye, while North Melbourne improves to 6-7 and remains in the wildcard race.