'Reel making virus': Mumbai man sets road on fire in '33' shape for social media fame on his birthday

A 33-year-old Mumbai car dealer grabbed the attention of netizens after he performed a dangerous birthday stunt. The man, now arrested by the Goregaon Police, poured petrol on the road and set it on fire to create a social media reel for his birthday. The video shows the man pouring inflammable liquid on a public road outside to light a fire in the shape of the number "33" for a reel.

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The video was shared by former Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi who wrote, "This Reel-making virus is leading to most absurd and illogical limits. Setting a public road on fire in Mumbai to make a birthday reel shows the madness that has set in to go viral. Glad to know the man is arrested." (sic)




“Reckless Birthday Stunt Sparks Outrage in Mumbai. In Goregaon West, a car dealer from Jogeshwari allegedly poured petrol on the MMRDA road outside Sunteck City 4th Avenue and set it on fire while filming a birthday reel. The dangerous act damaged the road surface at 4 spots. Parked vehicles narrowly,” an individual wrote while sharing the video on Reddit.

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Man sets road on fire for reel

The video shows the man standing in front of the car and trying to light what appears to be a cigarette. The number “33” is written on the road using an inflammable liquid. He then lights a matchstick, setting the marked stretch on fire. In the clip, he is seen walking alongside the burning road for a while before getting into his car and driving away.

The incident was brought to police's notice through a tweet made online by journalists late on April 25. They tagged the Mumbai Police in their tweet which had photos of the incident. Police reached the location shortly, around 12.05 am, at Ram Mandir Road in Goregaon West.

Police said the act of pouring an inflammable liquid on the road and setting it ablaze posed considerable risk to life and safety of others. An FIR was subsequently registered by Goregaon police.

The 33-year-old was identified as an automobile dealer and arrested by Goregaon Police, the Times of India (TOI) reported. He was booked under the provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Social media reaction

"The way he has maintained, he wont be able to go upto 66 I guess," an individual wrote. "India must get stricter about damaging public properties. If you want to instil respect for property, such acts must lead to high monetary or penal consequences," wrote another.

"Don’t know where this absurd virus is taking us to.. Every other person is indulging and getting ruined in it," another one wrote. "Such people should be in jail for rest of their lives so fire can be lit in the right place for them," another one commented.