Indian Supreme Court hears comedian's case, impacting online free speech debate

India's Supreme Court has requested responses from the governments of Haryana and Maharashtra regarding a controversy surrounding stand-up comedian Pranit More's "crowd work" during a show in Gurugram in June 2026. The case is poised to influence the broader debate on online free speech and content regulation in India.

The court is hearing More's plea to consolidate multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by police in Maharashtra and Haryana. More reportedly submitted that the video was deleted promptly upon realizing its gravity and was published by his PR team without his approval.

The controversy stemmed from an interaction during More's live performance where an audience member made a remark during the "crowd work" segment. A short clip of the exchange went viral, sparking the #biryaniisnotconsent hashtag. Following the incident, the audience member was fired by his employer, and More issued an apology and removed the video. Subsequently, FIRs were registered against More by various authorities.

This case is part of a series of incidents prompting discussions on regulating online content. Previous controversies and statements from the Supreme Court suggest the government is considering stricter rules for online content. These regulatory efforts raise concerns about potential limitations on free speech and increased self-censorship among online creators.