Ministry of I&B suspends choreographer Jani Master’s National Award over sexual assault allegations – ThePrint – PTIFeed

New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) The National Film Awards Cell of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has suspended the presentation of the National Film Award to choreographer Jani Master, citing sexual assault allegations.

Authorities also withdrew the invitation to the choreographer to attend the 70th National Film Awards in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, was said to have been felicitated at the ceremony for his work on the song “Megham Karukkatha” from the 2022 Tamil film “Thiruchitrambalam”.

In the note, dated October 4 (Friday), the National Film Awards Cell said the letter to attend the National Film Awards was issued to the choreographer “before the allegations of crime under the POCSO Act came to light”.

“Considering the seriousness of the allegation and the matter under its jurisdiction, the competent authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award for Best Choreography for the Year 2022 awarded to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam until further notice .

“Hence, the invitation to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the 70th National Film Awards function to be held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 8.10.24 is hereby withdrawn,” said the note, signed by Deputy Director Indrani Bose.

A city court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Jani Master after he filed a bail application to attend the National Film Awards.

Last month, a woman, who worked as an assistant to Jani Master, alleged in a police complaint that the choreographer had sexually assaulted her during a business trip to Mumbai in 2020 and continued the sexual harassment, and also threatened her not to reveal this to anyone . .

On September 15, Narsingi police registered a case against the choreographer under sections 376(2)(n), 506, 323 of the IPC (related to rape, causing hurt and other offences).

When her statement was recorded, it was disclosed that she was a minor at the time of the alleged crime. Therefore, a relevant section of the POCSO Act, 2012 has been added, the police said.

Jani Master was apprehended in Goa by the Cyberabad police on September 19 and taken to Hyderabad and produced before a city court which remanded him to fourteen days’ judicial custody. PTI RDS RDS RDS

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