I&B Ministry Suspends Jani Master’s National Award Following Over Rape Allegation
The National Film Awards Cell of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has suspended the National Film Award for choreographer Jani Master following the sexual assault allegations against him. He had won the National Award for Best Choreography for Megham Karukkatha, the song from Thiruchitrambalam.
The invitation to attend the 70th National Film Awards in New Delhi on October 8 has also been withdrawn. The award was shared with the song’s choreographer Sathish Krishnan. However, on Friday, the National Film Awards Cell of the I&B Ministry issued a statement that the award was suspended.
Read also: Natasa Stankovic Announces Her Debut After Separation From Hardik Pandya
The letter, signed by deputy director Indrani Bose, reads: “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the matter being subjudice, the Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award of the Best Choreography for the Year 2022 to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam until further orders.”
The city court had granted bail to Jani Master on Thursday after he filed a bail application to attend the National Film Awards.
However, the National Film Award Cell stated that the invitation to attend the ceremony was given before the allegation under the POCSO Act surfaced.
Jani Master was apprehended in Goa by the Cyberabad police on September 19 and brought to Hyderabad and produced before a city court which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.
The Thiruchitrambalam choreographer was arrested on September 19, in Goa, following a complaint filed by a 21 year old woman from Madhya Pradesh.
In the complaint, the woman alleged that he assaulted her many times during their shoots in different cities, including Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
Read also: Alia Bhatt’s Surprise Entry At Alan Walker Concert In Bengaluru
The woman said that it all began in 2019 when Jani Master asked her to join the team as an assistant choreographer. During her visit to Mumbai for a shoot with Jani Master and two other assistant choreographers, he had allegedly sexually assaulted her in the hotel. Further, he threatened the victim with dire consequences if she talked about the assault to anyone.
