Jani Master’s National Award was revoked following sexual assault allegations

Telugu choreographer Jani Master is currently behind bars amid serious allegations of sexually abusing his underage colleague. There was speculation that Jani would leave prison to attend the National Awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 8.

The Master was awarded the prestigious Best Choreography award for Dhanush-starrer Thiruchitrambalam (2022). However, following serious allegations, the government has revoked the Master’s National Award.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suspended the distribution of the award a few days before the scheduled ceremony.

The letter issued by the ministry and signed by Deputy Director Indrani Bose, according to HT, said: “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the facts of the matter, the competent authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award for Best Choreography for the year 2022 to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam till further orders.”

The awards cell has also withdrawn the invitation to attend the 70th National Awards Ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

The news of the revocation of the award comes days after he was granted interim bail by the Ranga Reddy District Special Court. He was granted interim bail from October 6 to 10.

On September 19, the master was arrested in Goa by the Telangana Police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.

Jani, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, was accused of sexually abusing his 21-year-old wife, who claimed the choreographer had harassed her several times since she began working with him.

According to the police custody report, the girl was 16 years old when the choreographer began sexually abusing her.

Master is a renowned choreographer and has worked in popular films like Baahubali and Pushpa: The Rise, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.