Jani Master was arrested based on a complaint from a survivor, who alleged that he started sexually assaulting her when she was a minor. Booked under POCSO and several sections for rape and sexual assault, he had been jailed for over a month.
Published Oct 24, 2024 | 8:48 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2024 | 8:48 PM
Tollywood choreographer Jani Master
Telangana High Court granted bail to Tollywood choreographer Shaik Jani Basha aka Jani Master on Thursday, 24 October, in the sexual assault case against him.
On 15 September this year, a 21-year-old woman choreographer filed a complaint against Jani Master for sexually, physically and mentally assaulting her since 2019.
Based on her complaint, he was booked on charges of rape, sexual assault and criminal intimidation. As per the FIR that South First had accessed earlier, the woman stated that she first met Jani Master in 2017, when she was participating in a reality dance show.
In 2019, she was contacted by Jani’s team and was offered a job to join them as an assistant choreographer.
The survivor said that the assaults began after she was hired, especially during outdoor shoots. She had joined the team in Hyderabad and then had to travel to Mumbai with the national award-winning choreographer and two other male employees.
The survivor was a minor back then but her mother couldn’t accompany her due to lack of accommodation or tickets for the family. It was then that Jani allegedly assaulted her and threatened her not to tell anyone. She was warned of consequences like being fired and not getting future opportunities in the industry if she opened up.
The survivor had stated that after the assault, Jani Master would repeatedly ask for sexual favours, and if refused, he would physically assault her. Recalling one such incident, the woman choreographer said Jani hit her head on a mirror in the vanity van, injuring her.
She further alleged that he would also go to her house and vandalise her property, and scooter and was being pressured to convert to his religion and marry him.
Eventually, the survivor stopped working with him and started working on her own. She alleged that following this, the intimidation grew, and Jani along with his wife forcefully entered her home, and started questioning her about religion. Jani’s wife also allegedly slapped her multiple times.
Jani Master has also been active in Andhra Pradesh politics. As a member of Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party (JSP), he campaigned for the party in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
However, as news of his case came out, the Opposition YSRCP targeted the JSP, which is part of the ruling dispensation in Andhra Pradesh.
Following that, the JSP released a statement barring Shaik Jani Basha from party activities. “Shaik Jani is instructed to stay away from all party activities in view of the case against him in Raidurgam police station.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cancelled the decision to award Shaik Jani Basha, alias Jani Master, the National Film Award for Best Choreography for 2022.
In a letter dated Friday, 4 October, National Film Awards Cell Deputy Director Indrani Bose said: “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the matter being subjudice, the Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award of the Best Choreography for the Year 2022 to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam until further orders.”
The cell also withdrew the invitation extended to Jani to attend the National Film Award ceremony scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 8 October.
It is important to note that he had been granted bail for that week so that he could attend the National Film Awards ceremony.
(Edited by Neena)
