Report: Stree 2 choreographer Jani Master admits sexual abuse of a former employee

Telugu choreographer Jani Master has confessed to sexually assaulting his underage colleague, police confirmed. On September 19, Master was arrested in Goa by the Telangana police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Jane, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, was accused of sexual harassment by a 21-year-old woman who claimed that the choreographer had assaulted her on several occasions while working with him since she was a minor.

The complaint was filed as a zero FIR at Raidurgam police station on September 11. The case has been transferred to Narsingi police station for further investigation.

Jani was charged under sections 376 (2) (punishment for sexual assault), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 323 (punishment for intentional causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.

After filing a complaint with the police, the victim submitted a 40-page document to the Telangana State Women's Commission describing the incident in detail and with evidence.

According to The Hindu, Nerella Sharada, chairperson of the committee, said, “The committee has ordered that police protection be provided to the victim. A high-level monitoring committee will also be set up to investigate such cases in the film industry. We will take this case very seriously and will work for strict implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act in all workplaces, including setting up local and internal committees.”

According to the detention report, the girl was 16 years old when the choreographer began sexually abusing her. In the complaint, she also claims that the master threatened her and even forced her to convert to his religion so that he could “marry” her.

Following the complaint, he was suspended from the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and a trade union. He was also a member of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena party. He was reportedly asked to stay away from party events and his duties as a member.

Jani Master is a renowned choreographer in the showbiz world. He has worked in popular films such as Baahubali And Pushpa: The Rise, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya And Kisi ka bhai, kisi ki jaan. He received the national award for best choreography for Thiruchitrambalaam.

He also choreographed the superhit “Aayi Nayi” in the recent Hindi blockbuster. Street 2 with Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.