What's Dr Sejal Pawar's 'cadaver joke' controversy that has landed her in trouble?
Dr Sejal Pawar's remark about a male cadaver during comedian Pranit More’s show has triggered backlash online. In that video, the young doctor can be heard talking about how medics joke about a man’s private parts while performing post-mortem examinations. According to reports, the Maharashtra Cyber police has registered a case against her
Nowadays, making personal comments is seemingly considered a joke. One holds a mic and starts passing comments to sound cool, without thinking even once. In many cases, those "so-called jokes" face harsh scrutiny.
And the latest case is of Sejal Pawar, a young doctor, who sparked online backlash for making remarks about a male cadaver during interactions at comedian Pranit More's shows.
She later issued an apology; however, the damage was already done. Her "insensitive" remark triggered discussions about medical ethics, professionalism, and whether public accountability is consistently enforced when off-duty remarks gain widespread online attention.
The latest controversy has also unfolded amid ongoing debate surrounding the original Rs 370 biryani clip.
More from ExplainersWe take a look.
What did Dr Sejal Pawar say?
Pawar's clip is from a show that was held three months ago. In this video, Pawar spoke about cadavers in medical education.
More, the comedy show host, asked whether doctors maintain a professional demeanour or crack jokes while conducting autopsies.
Pawar then started describing anatomy-related experiences involving cadavers. In that video, the young doctor can be heard talking about how doctors joke about a man’s private parts while performing post-mortem examinations.
Pawar furthered that she and her colleagues would compare the sizes of male cadavers' private parts. And the controversy around her comments went out of control, prompting strong reactions from viewers.
Critics called out the remarks as "insensitive and disrespectful" toward body donors, especially considering the vital role cadavers play in training future doctors.
Why did the comment spark controversy?
Dignity and trust dominated the criticism.
Body donation is widely regarded as a selfless contribution, with individuals and their families choosing to support medical education and scientific advancement.
On that note, the internet blasted Pawar. Several social media users contended that making jokes about deceased individuals who had donated their bodies is crossing an "ethical boundary."
Among those who voiced their concerns were medical students and professionals. One social media user identifying as a medical student wrote that mocking a cadaver was "one of the worst things you can do".
The responses underscored broader expectations regarding the respect and sensitivity healthcare professionals are expected to show when speaking about people whose bodies contribute to medical training.
What did Pawar say in her defence?
Following the backlash, Pawar issued a public apology, saying she understood why people were upset and accepted responsibility for her remarks. "I said the very wrong thing. I am sorry for that."
“I’m not here to justify what was said or explain it away. I'm responsible for it. Looking back, I can see how my words could be interpreted differently from what I meant," Pawar said, adding that she was very naive when she spoke about it.
“I genuinely want to address a clip from a recent video that has been circulating. Having watched it back, I completely understand why people were upset by what I said."
I never intentionally thought that I would say something like that, she said in the apology clip.
“To everyone who was disappointed or hurt by the clip, I understand what went wrong, and I am genuinely sorry for that, and I would never let this happen ever again,” Pawar added.
What actions have been taken against her so far?
According to a Times of India report (TOI), a case has been registered against Pawar under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Jangra, who made a "370 biryani" comment and More are also under scanner and cases have been registered against them as well.
A summons has been issued to Pranit, directing her to appear before Maharashtra Cyber to record her statement.
Maharashtra Cyber has also issued an advisory calling on content creators and digital influencers to comply with applicable legal guidelines when creating and sharing online content.
All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) has strongly criticised remarks made by Pawar, and called them "insensitive and disrespectful" towards cadavers and body donors.
"AIMSA strongly condemns the insensitive and disrespectful portrayal of cadavers and body donors for entertainment or comedy. Every cadaver represents a noble individual who chose to contribute to medical education through body donation, helping shape future doctors and save countless lives," AIMSA said in a post, calling such comments “completely unacceptable."
In a strongly worded remark, AIMSA warned that if no action is taken, it may consider legal options to ensure accountability. "Respect the doctor," it added.
The National Commission for Women has also initiated suo motu cognisance of the incident after viral videos and media reports surfaced.
With inputs from agencies
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