Tollywood choreographer Jani Master granted interim bail amid sexual assault charges

Hyderabad: The Ranga Reddy court on October 3, 2024, has granted interim bail to Tollywood choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, popularly known as Jani Master, in connection with sexual assault charges against a 21-year-old assistant choreographer. The bail, which allows him to take the National Award, is effective from October 6 to October 10.

Currently imprisoned at Chanchalguda Jail, Jani Master had applied for bail to attend the prestigious award ceremony. He has been in judicial custody since September 20, 2024, after being arrested on September 19 by the Cyberabad Special Operation Team (SOT) in Goa. He was brought back to Hyderabad after his arrest and presented at the Upparapalli Court.

The charges against Jani Master are based on a complaint filed by the assistant choreographer at the Raidurgam police station, alleging multiple instances of sexual assault dating back to 2019. The case is registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), as well as relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to reports, the victim accused Jani Master of assaulting her several times on film sets and at a hotel in Mumbai. She also claimed that his wife pressured her to comply with Jani Master’s demands, threatening and physically abusing her if she resisted.

Following the complaint, the Narsingi police launched a manhunt, dispatching multiple teams, including one to North India, in search of Jani Master, who was ultimately located and arrested in Goa.

This is not Jani Master’s first encounter with the law; he has a previous criminal record, having been sentenced to six months in jail in 2019 for assaulting a woman in 2015.

Born on July 2, 1982, Jani Master is a well-known Indian dance choreographer, primarily active in Telugu and Tamil cinema, with credits in Kannada and Hindi films. He is recognized for his expertise in both Western and folk dance styles. He has received numerous accolades, including a National Film Award, three Filmfare Awards South, and three SIIMA Awards.

Jani Master began his career as a dancer in Telugu films and gained popularity through ETV’s dance reality show Dhee. His choreography includes notable works in films like Drona (2009) and Racha (2012), collaborating with prominent actors such as Ram Charan, Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun, N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Pothineni, and Ravi Teja.