Telugu choreographer Shaik Jani Basha has been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by the Narsingi police of Cyberabad. The charges were brought on Wednesday, September 18, following a complaint by a 21-year-old woman who accused him of sexually abusing her over a period of six years. Following these developments, he was taken into custody and is expected to be transferred to Hyderabad for further investigation, according to a report on NDTV.


An FIR has been registered against Jani Master under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 376 (rape), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), and Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt). The allegations also led to the application of sections of the POCSO Act.


The case against Jani Master escalated quickly with the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce suspending him, and a workers' union taking action against him. 


Allegations Against Jani Master


The woman, who worked as a junior choreographer with Jani Master, alleged in her complaint that she was sexually assaulted during various outdoor shoots. The incidents reportedly took place across several cities, including Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. She claimed that these assaults began in 2019 and continued over the years.


Initially, the woman filed her complaint with the Raidurgam police in Hyderabad, describing how Jani Master allegedly assaulted her multiple times, not only during shoots but also at her residence in Narsingi. 


The complainant revealed that she remained silent about the incidents for a considerable time due to threats from Jani Master. He allegedly warned her about being blacklisted from the film industry if she spoke out. Additionally, she mentioned feeling intimidated by his associates, which contributed to her hesitance to come forward earlier.


The investigation into the allegations is ongoing, with the police aiming to gather more evidence and testimonies related to the case.


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