In a startling development, renowned choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, known as Jani Master, has been booked for sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman. The case was initially registered as a Zero FIR at Raidurgam police station before being transferred to the Narsingi police for further investigation.
According to reports from The Hindu, the complainant, who is also a choreographer, alleged that Jani Master had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions during outdoor shoots. She claimed to have worked closely with him for several months before the incidents occurred.
As per a statement quoted by the Hindustan Times, police revealed, “The complainant said that Jani had sexually assaulted her multiple times during their shoots in different cities, including Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. She also claimed he assaulted her at her residence in Narsingi several times.” Given the complainant’s residence in Narsingi, the case was transferred to the local police station for further action.
Jani Master, who recently received a prestigious National Award, has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including section 376 (rape), section 506 (criminal intimidation), and section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt). Shikha Goel, Director General of the Women Safety Wing in Telangana, has urged the film industry to conduct an internal inquiry under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act and to formally register a case with the authorities.
This is not the first time the choreographer has been embroiled in controversy. In a previous incident, a dancer named Satish accused Jani Master of harassment, claiming he was being blocked from securing film work. Jani Master later denied these allegations during a press conference.
Additionally, in 2019, Jani Master was sentenced to six months in prison by a local court in Hyderabad for his involvement in a brawl at a college event in 2015. Despite these controversies, Jani Master remains a well-known figure in the film industry, having choreographed popular songs such as “Rowdy Baby” and “Aayi Nai” from Stree 2.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the current allegations.
Help Available: If you or someone you know is experiencing physical, emotional, or verbal abuse, there are several helplines available. Do not hesitate to seek help and stand against abuse.
