From ₹370 Biryani to Cadaver Comments: How India’s Internet Became a New System of Public Accountability

By: Kaydence Rodrigues

India’s rapidly growing digital landscape has transformed social media into a powerful space for public discussion, collective accountability and social awareness. As millions of users participate online, digital platforms influence conversations around behaviour and responsibility, while also creating challenges such as cybercrime, misinformation and the need for safer internet practices.

A ₹370 biryani comment. A controversial statement involving deceased bodies. Two moments from a comedy show that quickly became national conversations.  

The incidents surrounding comedian Pranit More’s show highlight a larger transformation in India’s digital society: the rise of collective online accountability, where millions of users can bring attention to issues, challenge behaviour and influence public responses.  

The “₹370 biryani” controversy began after a clip from a crowd-work segment went viral, where an audience member made comments suggesting that spending money on a date created an expectation of physical intimacy in return. The remarks received widespread criticism online, with users discussing consent, respect and social attitudes. Reports by LiveMint stated that the individual involved, a Gurugram-based employee, later lost his job after the video gained public attention.  

A second controversy emerged after mocking comments referring to the private parts of deceased male cadavers during medical training were made by a female member of the audience and circulated online. The discussion focused on dignity, ethical boundaries and respect for deceased individuals. A report by The Times of India noted that the matter also led to institutional attention.  

Both incidents demonstrate a new reality: the internet has created a space where collective public reaction can demand accountability.  

The rise of internet-driven accountability is closely connected to India’s rapidly expanding digital population. The growth of internet access and social media has changed how people communicate, consume information and participate in public conversations.  

According to the DataReportal Digital 2025 India Report, India had approximately 806 million internet users and around 491 million social media user identities in January 2025, making it one of the largest online populations in the world.  

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar’s Internet in India Report 2024 further highlighted this expansion, reporting that India had around 886 million active internet users in 2024. The report also showed that rural India has become a major contributor to internet growth, indicating that digital participation is spreading beyond urban centres.  

This enormous digital population has transformed how society responds to public issues. Earlier, accountability was largely driven by institutions, journalists and traditional media. Today, ordinary users can record, share and discuss events, creating collective awareness around issues within hours.  

A single video can move from a private moment to a nationwide conversation almost instantly.  

Social media has changed the relationship between individuals and public accountability. Platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook allow users to participate directly in conversations about social behaviour, ethics and responsibility.  

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024, based on a survey of more than 95,000 people across 47 countries, highlights the growing importance of digital platforms in news consumption and public engagement.  

The report found that globally, 31% of respondents used YouTube for news every week, while 21% used WhatsApp for news, showing the growing role of video and messaging platforms in shaping how people receive and discuss information.  

In India, the report highlights the strong role of social and video platforms in shaping news consumption, especially among younger audiences. Around 54% of respondents in India reported using YouTube for news each week, while 48% used WhatsApp for news consumption.  

This shows that platforms originally created for communication and entertainment have evolved into spaces where people encounter information, debate social issues and participate in wider public conversations.  

The audience is no longer only a viewer. It becomes an active participant in deciding which issues receive attention, how discussions develop and what behaviours are publicly questioned.  

The reaction to the biryani controversy reflected this shift. Thousands of users shared opinions, analysed the comment and pushed the discussion beyond the original setting of the comedy show.  

One of the strongest examples of online accountability is how digital discussions can influence realworld decisions. After the biryani comment went viral, widespread online reactions followed, leading to professional consequences for the individual involved. LiveMint reports stated that the employee lost his job after the incident received public attention.  

This reflects a major change in the digital era: public behaviour and online presence are increasingly connected. A person’s actions can now be viewed, discussed and evaluated by a much larger audience than ever before.  

Young users are among the strongest forces behind this new form of online accountability.  According to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), young Indians represent a significant portion of internet users and are among the most active participants on digital platforms.   

For many young people, social media has become a space to discuss issues related to gender, respect, social values and public responsibility.  

The ability to share opinions collectively has created a culture where users can question statements, demand explanations and bring attention to issues they believe require discussion.  

In the digital age, a single voice can start a conversation, but millions of connected voices can turn that conversation into accountability.  

However, the expansion of digital spaces has also brought new challenges. As more Indians become connected through the internet and social media platforms, cybercrime has increased alongside digital adoption.  

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Crime in India 2023 report, India recorded 86,420 cybercrime cases in 2023, compared to 65,893 cases in 2022, marking a 31.2% increase in one year. Fraud-related cybercrime was the largest category, accounting for 59,526 cases.  

These figures show the complex nature of India’s digital revolution. The same networks that allow citizens to collectively question behaviour, raise concerns and demand accountability can also become spaces for fraud, misinformation and online exploitation.  

The internet has therefore created both new opportunities and new risks. While digital platforms have empowered citizens to participate in public conversations and challenge social behaviour, they have also increased the need for digital awareness, responsibility and safer online practices.  

India’s digital future will depend not only on how many people come online, but also on how responsibly they use these platforms.