National Award Suspended for Rape-Accused Choreographer Jani Master
Picture credits: Gulte
By Kushsmita Dhevi Jaya Ram
The National Film Award for renowned dance choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, known as Jani Master, has been suspended following allegations of sexual assault. On October 4, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) sent a letter to Jani Master, notifying him of the suspension and revoking his invitation to the National Film Awards ceremony, scheduled for October 8.
The suspension comes in light of serious charges against Jani Master, who was arrested on September 19 for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor assistant in 2019. He faces charges under sections 376(2) (sexual assault), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The matter is currently sub judice.
Jani Master had won the 2022 National Award for Best Choreography for the song “Megham Karukatha” from the Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam, starring Dhanush, Nithya Menen, and Raashii Khanna. However, in its letter, the I&B Ministry emphasized that the invitations sent to him in August and September were issued before the allegations under the POCSO Act became public.
The ministry stated that the award would remain suspended until further orders, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings against Jani Master.
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