A 21-year-old woman choreographer filed a complaint against Jani for sexually, physically, and mentally assaulting her since 2019.
Published Sep 18, 2024 | 11:56 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 20, 2024 | 4:39 PM
Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce expels choreographer Jani. (Facebook)
The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, 18 September, expelled choreographer Shaik Jani Basha—popular as Jani Master—after a woman choreographer accused him of sexually assaulting her.
On Sunday, 15 September, a 21-year-old female choreographer filed a complaint against the Jana Sena Party member for sexually, physically and mentally assaulting her since 2019.
Following the complaint against Jani, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce held a meeting on Tuesday, 17 September, and noted that they formed a committee to enquire into the incident.
The sexual harassment redressal committee includes the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce Honourary Secretary and Convenor KL Damodar Prasad, Chairperson Jhansi; Tammareddy Bharadwaja, Suchitra Chandrabose, Vivek Kuchibhotla, Pragati Mahavadi as the internal members, and social worker-media expert Ramalakshmi Medapati and advocate-PoSH expert Kavya Mandava as the external members.
The committee also noted that Jani Master had been removed as the Dancers’s Union president.
On 16 September, the JSP released a statement, barring Shaik Jani Basha from party activities. The statement read: “Shaik Jani is instructed to stay away from all party activities in view of the case against him in Raidurgam police station. This order is effective immediately.”
The members of the committee formed by TFCC to look into the sexual harassment charges against Jani Master. (Supplied)
Speaking on behalf of the panel, actor-TV presenter Jhansi said, “This is a serious issue. The complainant had been a victim since she was a minor.”
Adding that the abuse continued for a long time under the pretext of preferential treatment at work, Jhansi noted, “She approached the committee member, at first, with the complaint of not getting proper work. The Chamber intervened and solved that side of the issue. However, upon further probing the issue, it was found that sexual harassment was the reason behind.”
Jhansi added, “As a committee, we have recorded the statement of the victim and also recorded the statement of the accused in the last two weeks. As we recorded the victim’s statement, we realised the case is more grievous, as it is beyond sexual harassment at the workplace.”
Reiterating that the committee has limited scope, Jhansi stated that as the victim was a minor when she was allegedly assaulted, she was advised to file a police complaint.
Further speaking on the redressal mechanisms, Jhansi noted that despite having the same issues as the other film industries, there are no adequate and suitable mechanisms in the Telugu film industry.
Calling the film industry an unorganised sector, Jhansi mentioned that the process of forming guidelines with the help of industry members and the government is still ongoing.
Further recalling that the sub-committee report is still with the government, the actor said it would be easier to form the guidelines and other mechanisms if the report is released. “There is a lot more work to be done, after 2018, the issue is gaining momentum briefly as we are dealing with issues separately.”
Committee chairperson Jhansi also condemned the media organisation that published the victim’s photo and other details.
She noted: “All the media houses know how a rape and sexual assault case needs to be highlighted. However, in this case, that didn’t happen. Instead of reporting it as a rape case, the media sensationalised the case as a film story.”
She further added, “As and when the media sensationalises these cases, a lot more women who want to come forward to speak up are deterred. They will get scared seeing the chaos.”
Jhansi concluded by saying that the inquiry is in process, “According to the guidelines we have 90 days to give the report, but we will complete it before that. We have done a lot of work on it, we are finding a lot of structural proof, this is not an individual’s case, this is sexual harassment at the workplace.”
“We are trying to make the industry a safe place to work for women,” she added.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
