A viral comment on a ₹370 biryani sparked a debate on consent. Mumbai Police made it clear through the #BiryaniIsNotConsent campaign that spending money on a date is not consent. Now NCW and Cyber Cell are also investigating this matter.
The viral controversy over the Rs 370 biryani escalated further when Mumbai Police jumped into the debate with a sharp social media message on consent. After this post, a new discussion has started regarding dating, expectations and respect of personal boundaries. This police post went viral as soon as it came online. While some people are praising this step, some people are also criticizing the police for adopting a humorous approach on such a serious issue.
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This whole controversy started from a stand-up show of comedian Praneet More. During the show, Himanshu Jangra, sitting in the audience, narrated one of his dating stories. He said that for someone, spending Rs 370 on biryani means that one can expect something in return. His statement was heavily criticized on social media and people called it anti-women and wrong thinking.
Amid this debate, Mumbai Police shared a post with the hashtag #BiryaniIsNotConsent. The message clearly stated that paying the food bill for someone does not give you any right to be intimate or physical. The post also warned that wrongful behavior based on such thinking could lead to legal action. A line from the campaign is being shared widely: “For ₹370 you get a plate of biryani. Food is free in our jail, and the stay can also be long.”
This campaign quickly went viral and received thousands of reactions and comments. Supporters praised Mumbai Police for spreading awareness on the issue of consent. At the same time, critics said that law enforcement agencies should focus on actual action instead of social media messaging. This debate spread on different platforms.
Meanwhile, this controversy has increased further. It is reported that the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken cognizance of this matter and has summoned people associated with the viral clip. Maharashtra Cyber Cell has also registered an FIR regarding objectionable material related to this incident.
As the #BiryaniIsNotConsent hashtag is trending, this issue has grown from just a viral comment to a serious conversation on larger issues like consent, accountability, gender and online behavior.