Choreographer Jani Master confesses to sexual assault after arrest in POCSO case

Noted Telugu choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, also known as Jani Master, admitted to sexually harassing a younger colleague. According to our sources, police confirmed that the choreographer has confessed to the crimes.

The 42-year-old was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after police found that he allegedly started abusing the woman when she was a minor, 16 years old. The survivor, now 21, reportedly met Jani on a dance reality show in 2017, after which he offered her the job as a choreographer. In her complaint to the police and the Telugu State Commission for Women, the woman alleged that Jani repeatedly abused her for six years in different cities during her outdoor shoots and also visited her residence in Hyderabad.

The alleged incidents began during a hotel stay in Mumbai in 2020, where the survivor was with other dancers for a show. She told police that she was usually accompanied by her mother during these outdoor shoots, but this time she had not received her tickets. She further claimed that Jani later threatened her with physical violence if she decided to speak to anyone about her ordeal. He also allegedly instilled fear in her of losing her job and future opportunities in the film industry.

Woman's neighbor testifies in case

A police detention report details that Jani Master not only raped her multiple times over six years, but also allegedly manipulated her into converting to his religion and “marrying” him. The survivor reported that she was harassed for months, which led to her isolating herself at home. Financial pressure eventually forced her to seek Jani's help in finding a job, which led to further abuse.

Witness testimony has further corroborated the survivors' statements. A neighbor, a former official of the survivors' housing association, observed Jani visiting her house several times and often spending many hours alone with her mother in her absence.

The police report reveals that Jani has been booked under sections 376(2) (punishment for sexual assault), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 323 (punishment for intentional causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He is currently in 14-day judicial custody after being arrested from Goa on September 19, 2024.

The survivor, who documented her experiences in a comprehensive 40-page report, received support from advocacy groups. She first confided in one of Jani's assistants, who encouraged her to file a formal complaint with the Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Association (TFTADD).

Jani Master faced professional consequences, including suspension from the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and a trade union.