Choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, widely known as Jani Master, has lost his National Film Award following allegations of sexual harassment made by his assistant choreographer. Earlier this month, Jani Master was arrested in Goa under charges related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s National Film Awards Cell confirmed that Jani Master’s award has been suspended. Additionally, his invitation to the 70th National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, has been withdrawn.
National Award for Choreographer Jani Master Suspended
Choreographer Jani Master’s National Award for Best Choreography was revoked by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Friday. Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, was recently in prison facing allegations of sexually assaulting a female colleague.
He had initially won the award for the song Megham Karukkatha from the movie Thiruchitrambalam, sharing the honor with co-choreographer Sathish Krishnan. However, the I&B Ministry’s National Film Awards Cell released a statement announcing that the award had been suspended.
The official letter, signed by deputy director Indrani Bose, stated: “Due to the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing legal proceedings, the Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award for Best Choreography for the year 2022, awarded to Shaik Jani Basha for Thiruchitrambalam, until further notice.”
The ministry also canceled Jani’s invitation to the National Film Awards ceremony, set to take place in New Delhi on October 8. Interestingly, Jani had received interim bail earlier this week to attend the event.
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Allegations Against Jani Master
Famous choreographer Jani Master was arrested by Cyberabad police in Goa on September 19 and taken to Hyderabad, where he appeared in court. The court placed him in 14-day judicial custody.
The arrest came after a complaint was filed by a woman who had worked as his assistant choreographer. She accused Jani Master of sexually assaulting her during a work trip to Mumbai in 2020. She also claimed that the harassment didn’t stop there, he allegedly continued to harass her and threatened her not to tell anyone about the incidents.
On September 15, the Narsingi Police registered a case against Jani Master under sections 376(2)(n), 506, and 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deal with sexual assault, criminal intimidation, and causing hurt.
Later, during her statement, the woman revealed that she was a minor at the time of the alleged assault. Because of this, the police added charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
In her statement, the woman said that Jani assaulted her multiple times in different places, including various shooting locations and even at her own home. She also accused him of demanding sexual favours and trying to force her into marrying him.
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FAQs
Q.1. Why was Jani Master’s National Film Award suspended?
Ans. Jani’s National Film Award was suspended due to sexual harassment allegations made by his assistant choreographer and ongoing legal proceedings under the POCSO Act.
Q.2. What are the charges against Jani Master?
Ans. Jani is facing charges of sexual assault, criminal intimidation, and harassment under sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act.
Q.3. When was Jani Master arrested?
Ans. Jani was arrested on September 19, 2024, by the Cyberabad police in Goa and brought to Hyderabad for court proceedings.
Q.4. What does the POCSO Act entail in Jani Master’s case?
Ans. The POCSO Act was applied after it was revealed that the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged assault, making the case more severe.
Q.5. Will Jani Master attend the National Film Awards ceremony?
Ans. No, Jani’s invitation to the 70th National Film Awards ceremony has been revoked due to the seriousness of the allegations.
