Choreographer Jani Master admits sexual abuse of a former employee: Police

Telugu choreographer Jani Master, who is accused of sexually harassing a former employee, has confessed to the crime, police said.

According to the 21-year-old woman, she met Master at an event in 2017. Two years later, he offered her a job as a choreography assistant, which she accepted. The alleged sexual assault occurred after that – in a hotel where she, Master and other dancers were staying during a show in Mumbai.

On Thursday, Master – who has been suspended by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and a trade union – was taken into custody in Bengaluru and is set to be shifted to Hyderabad. The choreographer has worked on films such as “Baahubali” and “Pushpa: The Rise”.

In her complaint, she said Jani Master and two other male assistants travelled to Mumbai.

The woman said she was usually accompanied by her mother, but not this time because her tickets were unavailable. The woman also accused Master of threatening her with physical violence if she filed a complaint and of psychologically harassing her during photo shoots and rehearsals.

The police custody report states that the then 16-year-old victim had been sexually abused several times over a period of four years.

According to the prosecution, he even forced her to convert to his faith and “marry” him.

On Tuesday, actor Jhansi, who chairs the House committee investigating allegations of sexual harassment, told NDTV that the allegations against Master – rape and criminal intimidation – would lead to charges under the stringent POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act).

Jani Master is also a member of actor-politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, which is allied with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party.

The Jana Sena has instructed Master to stay away from its political events at present.