Mumbai: Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has called for a ban on stand-up comedy shows following the controversy involving comedian Pranit More, stating that she
plans to write to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking action on the issue. Her remarks came a day after Maharashtra Cyber registered an FIR over allegedly obscene and objectionable content that was circulated online from one of More's comedy performances, ANI reported. Speaking to ANI, Tawde said the comments featured in the viral clip were not in line with Indian cultural values. "A stand-up comedy show by Pranit More was organised here. Sejal Pawar, a student from our KEM Hospital, was present in the show... As the Mayor, I oppose this; it does not befit our Indian culture.... Stand-up comedy shows should be banned. I will write a letter to the Chief Minister," she said. The controversy has also drawn a response from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who maintained that freedom of expression must be protected but should not come at the cost of public decency. "The Constitution of India grants everyone the freedom of expression. However, it also establishes safeguards to ensure this freedom is not misused. When expression becomes unrestrained, it infringes upon the right of individuals in society to live with dignity," Fadnavis said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Cyber has filed an FIR against stand-up comedian Pranit More, Himanshu Jangra, Dr Sejal Pawar, and other individuals found to be involved in the creation and circulation of allegedly obscene and objectionable content linked to a stand-up comedy event held in Gurugram. According to officials, the case stems from videos and clips that were widely shared across platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and other social media networks. The content allegedly included offensive remarks concerning women, consent, and deceased persons, which authorities claim violate accepted social norms and may attract criminal liability. During its inquiry, Maharashtra Cyber reportedly found a clip in which Dr Sejal Pawar allegedly made obscene and derogatory remarks about deceased male bodies and medical cadavers used for teaching purposes. Investigators alleged that the comments were disrespectful to the dignity of the deceased and inconsistent with standards of public decency. Another video under scrutiny allegedly showed Himanshu Jangra making remarks implying a sense of entitlement to physical intimacy in exchange for money spent during a date. Authorities claim the comments portrayed women in a derogatory manner and trivialised issues related to consent and dignity. Based on these findings, an FIR was registered at the Nodal Cyber Police Station under Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 294 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, read with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, against Pranit More, Himanshu Jangra, Dr Sejal Pawar, and others. Maharashtra Cyber further alleged that the content was recorded, promoted, published, and distributed through various digital platforms associated with the programme hosted by More. Investigators suspect the material was circulated to boost viewership and audience engagement, while generating financial and commercial gains through online monetisation and other revenue streams. (With inputs from ANI)
