Jani Master’s National Film Award suspended for THIS reason

Hyderabad: In a major setback to choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, also known as Jani Master, who is facing sexual allegations and recently came out on an interim bail, the National Film Awards committee has suspended his award. Jani Master had won the National Award for his choreography to Megham Karukkatha song in ‘Thiruchitrambalam’ (2022).

Releasing a statement, the National Film Awards Cell given the “seriousness of allegation” against Jani Master, they have “decided to suspend the National Film Award of the Best Choreography” to him. Pending the rape allegations, the committee has also withdrawn the invitation extended to Jani Master before the allegations of crime under POCSO Act was raised against him.

Recently, the Ranga Reddy court had granted four-day interim bail to Tollywood choreographer to enable him to receive the award in person. On October 3, the district court had released the choreographer on bail from October 6 to October 10.

Jani Master has been accused of multiple instances of sexual assault dating back to 2019 by a 21-year-old assistant choreographer. Following a 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), as well as relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Currently lodged 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.

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.