Choreographer Jani Master's National Award Win Suspended By I&B Ministry Over Rape Allegations

Choreographer Jani Master's National Award for Best Choreography was revoked by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday, following serious allegations against him.

Choreographer Jani Master's National Award for Best Choreography was revoked by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday, following serious allegations against him. Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, had recently been in prison after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman who worked with him.

Jani Master's National Award win suspended

Jani had won the National Award for Best Choreography for the song 'Megham Karukkatha' from the film 'Thiruchitrambalam', an award he shared with fellow choreographer Sathish Krishnan. However, on Friday, the National Film Awards Cell of the I&B Ministry released a statement announcing the suspension of Jani's award.

In the letter, signed by Deputy Director Indrani Bose, it was stated: “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the matter being sub judice, 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 ministry also retracted its invitation for Jani to attend the National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi, scheduled for October 8. Notably, Jani had been granted interim bail earlier this week in order to attend the event.

 

Jani Master's arrest

Jani Master was arrested by the Cyberabad police in Goa on September 19 and brought to Hyderabad, where he was remanded to 14-day judicial custody. A woman, who had worked as his assistant choreographer, filed a complaint accusing Jani of sexually assaulting her during a work trip to Mumbai in 2020, and continuing harassment thereafter. She also alleged that he threatened her to keep the incidents quiet.

On September 15, the Narsingi Police registered a case against Jani under sections 376(2)(n), 506, and 323 of the IPC. During the investigation, it was revealed that the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged assault, leading to the addition of charges under the POCSO Act, 2012. According to the victim, Jani sexually assaulted her multiple times in various locations, including filming spots and her own home, while also demanding sexual favors and pressuring her to marry him.