Police have filed a zero First Information Report (FIR) against choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, popularly known as Jani Master, following allegations of sexual assault made by a 21-year-old woman who is also a choreographer. According to The Hindu, the woman, who has been working closely with Jani Master for several months, reported to the Raidurgam police in Hyderabad that he has been sexually assaulting her during their outdoor shoots.
The woman claims that Jani Master assaulted her at her residence in Narsingi, as well as during shoots in various cities including Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Based on her complaint, a zero FIR was filed by the Raidurgam police and has since been transferred to the Narsingi police for further investigation. A senior police official noted, “Since the woman resides in Narsingi, the case has been transferred there for further action.”
Jani Master faces charges under sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Telangana’s Director General of Women Safety Wing (WSW), Shikha Goel, mentioned that she had been contacted by individuals from the film industry seeking guidance. She advised them to conduct an internal inquiry under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act and also recommended registering a case with law enforcement. “The case will be investigated further according to protocol,” she said.
Earlier in June, a dancer named Satish had also lodged a complaint against Jani Master with the Raidurgam police, accusing him of harassment and blocking his opportunities in film shoots. Jani Master denied these allegations during a press conference.
In 2019, Jani Master was sentenced to six months in jail by a local court in Medchal, Hyderabad, for a 2015 altercation at a college. He remains active on social media, frequently sharing photos with celebrities such as Ram Charan, Pawan Kalyan, and Rajkummar Rao.
