Sexual assault case: Dance choreographer Jani Master arrested in Goa

Hyderabad: Well-known dance choreographer Jani Master, who has been accused of sexual assault by a woman who worked with him, was arrested in Goa.

Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani, was arrested in Goa by the Cyberabad police where he will be produced before a local court, a senior police official told.

He will be brought to Hyderabad after obtaining a transit warrant from the Goa court.

The Victim is a native of Madhya Pradesh. She alleged the assault occurred during outdoor shoots in Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, as well as at her Narsingi residence.

What are the allegations?

In her complaint, the Victim stated that she came to Hyderabad in 2017 from her native place and she was elected contestant in Dhee-ll in Hyderabad. When she was participating in the Dhee 12 a television show, she got introduced to Jani Master aka Shaik Jani Basha. She got a call from Jani Master team to assist him as assistant Choreographer. In 2019 she joined Jani Master 's team as an assistant Choreographer.

Whenever she went out of Hyderabad for the shoot, her mother did not travel with her as there were no tickets, stay and all so, they got a call from a Mumbai project for which she along with Jani Master and other two male assistants had to visit Mumbai.

During their stay in Mumbai hotel, Jani master sexually assaulted her forcefully and he threatened her not inform to any one, otherwise she would be fired from the work, and she wouldn't be able to work in the industry anymore. Out of this fear, she had to stay silent, then he continuously harassed her multiple times in every shoot, the Victim said.

The Victim also said that Jani Master used to ask for sexual favours in the shooting vanity van as she entered the vanity, he removed his pants and harassed her in shoot sets in front of everyone by touching her improperly. "Once I entered into a vanity he asked for sexual desire, on refusing he holds my hair and crushed my head to the mirror. Later he starts to go to visit my home late at night ransack my home and destroy Scooty and he forces me to come outside but I never agreed to all this he pressurize me to convert my religion and marry him," she said.

After a few of this when the victim worked individually, Jani Master along with his wife came to her home and forcefully made her open the door, they went inside and started questioning her about religion and Jani Master's wife slapped her multiple times, she said. Jani Master does not allow her to work individually or on any other projects as an opportunity to come. Jani Master used to went a victim work place and started threatening her by sending everyone outside he pressured her to go with him and marry him right at the moment and he threatened her that wouldn't be allowed in the industry.

"On August 17, when I was was going to her home from temple, some unknown person threatened me and on my future. On August 28, I got a strange parcel which hang to my home door without name, inside of that written as "congratulation for son but be very careful". First in the most of the shoots, they are hiring me but within sometime of work, I am getting a call and they are informing that they are going with someone else out instead of her. Therefore, I am requesting the police to take necessary action against Jani Master," the victim said.

Case registered

The Raidurgam police registered a zero FIR based on her complaint and transferred it to the Narsingi police station on Sunday night as she resides there.

According to police, a case was also registered under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the accused.

Telugu film chamber of commerce launched probe

Meanwhile, a panel formed by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has also launched a probe into allegations of sexual harassment against Jani Master.

Tammareddy Bharadwaj, a member of the committee, said the panel will have to submit a report on the issue within 90 days from the date of receiving the complaint from the Victim. Damodar Prasad, head of the sexual harassment redressal panel constituted by the Film Chamber, said a communication was sent to Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Association not to allow Jani Master to discharge duties as its president until he is cleared of all the charges.

The Telangana State Commission for Women chairperson Nerella Sharada on Wednesday said the complainant in the case approached the Commission. She said orders would be issued to provide police protection to her. The Commission would also extend necessary help, on behalf of the panel, to her, Sharada said. The issue also assumed political colour with Telangana BJP Mahila Morcha issuing a statement that the party considers it a "Love Jihad" case.

The Jana Sena party led by Pawan Kalyan has asked Jani Master to stay away from its programmes in view of the case registered against him.

Jani Master had campaigned for the party in the recently concluded polls.

Who is Jani Master?

Jani Master has choreographed more than 150 songs in Telugu and Tamil film industry. He has also worked in Kannada and Hindi cinema film industry. His choreography style is a mix of western and folk dances.

Jani Master won the National Film Award for the Best Choreographer of 2024.