Telangana HC grants bail to choreographer Jani Master
Hyderabad: Choreographer Jani Master, also known as Shaik Jani Basha, who is accused of sexual assault, has been granted bail by the Telangana High Court on Thursday. Earlier, he was granted an interim bail for four days to receive the National Award in Delhi. However, the bail couldn’t materialize as the National Film Awards Cell revoked his award. The choreographer is currently lodged at Chanchalguda jail.
Subsequently, there were demands for the revocation of his interim bail, however, the jail authorities stated that Jani Master did not leave the jail premises. Some legal experts had said that the very purpose of the bail petition was redundant following the decision of the National Film Awards Cell.
Jani Master had won the National Film Award for his outstanding choreography in the Tamil film Thiruchitrabalam. He was expected to attend the 70th National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 8.
The National Film Awards Cell announced that, given the “seriousness of the allegations” against Jani Master, they have decided to suspend his award. The committee also revoked an invitation extended to him before the sexual assault allegations, which include charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Jani Master faces multiple allegations of sexual assault dating back to 2019, made by a 21-year-old assistant choreographer. Following her complaint, the Raidurgam police registered a case against him under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt).
According to the reports, the victim accused Jani Master of assaulting her on several occasions, both on film sets and at a hotel in Mumbai. She also alleged that his wife pressured her to comply with Jani Master’s demands, resorting to threats and physical abuse when she resisted.
After the complaint was filed, the Narsingi police initiated a manhunt for Jani Master, dispatching multiple teams, including one to North India. He was ultimately located and arrested in Goa before being brought back to Hyderabad and presented in court.
This is not Jani Master’s first legal trouble; he has a prior criminal record, having been sentenced to six months in jail in 2019 for assaulting a woman in 2015.
Tollywood Choreographer Jani Master Granted Bail in POCSO Case
The Telangana High Court has granted bail to Tollywood choreographer Sheikh Janibasha, also known as Jani Master, who was arrested on charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Jani… pic.twitter.com/zDIjOzG83Y
— Sudhakar Udumula (@sudhakarudumula) October 24, 2024
Choreographer #JaniMaster, accused of sexual assault, has been granted bail by the court on Thursday. Earlier, he was granted an interim bail for four days to receive the National Award in Delhi. #Hyderabad https://t.co/PwJQocEeyr pic.twitter.com/1uhPcFC0FB
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) October 24, 2024
