Jani Master’s National Award suspended amid sexual assault allegations

Choreographer Jani Master’s National Award win was revoked by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

This decision was made on Friday due to serious allegations against him. Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, had earlier won the National Award for Best Choreography for the song ‘Megham Karukkatha’ from the film Thiruchitrambalam.

He shared this award with fellow choreographer Sathish Krishnan.

The National Film Awards Cell issued a statement saying the ceremony had been suspended.

The letter signed by Deputy Director Indrani Bose noted that due to the serious allegations and the ongoing legal proceedings, the awarding of the Best Choreography Award for 2022 would be suspended until further notice.

They have also withdrawn Jani Master’s invitation to the National Film Awards ceremony on October 8 in New Delhi.

Notably, Jani had recently been granted interim bail to attend this ceremony.

As for the allegations, Jani Master was arrested by the Cyberabad Police in Goa on September 19.

He was then taken to Hyderabad and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

A woman who worked as his assistant choreographer filed a complaint alleging he sexually assaulted her during a business trip to Mumbai in 2020.

She claimed he continued to harass her and threatened her not to tell anyone.

According to her, the assaults occurred multiple times in various locations, including at shooting ranges and in her own home, where he allegedly demanded sexual favors and pressured her to marry him.