Jana Sena Suspends Choreographer Jani Master After Sexual Assault Allegations

The ruling coalition partner in Andhra Pradesh, Jana Sena, has announced that Shaik Jani Basha, known popularly as Jani Master, will be distanced from party activities. This decision follows the filing of a sexual assault case against him. Jana Sena, led by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan, made this announcement on Monday shortly after the case was registered in Hyderabad.

The allegations against Jani Master include sexual assault of a woman, who is also in the choreography profession. The Raidurgam police in Cyberabad initially filed a zero First Information Report (FIR) against him. The case was later transferred to the Narsingi Police Station where it is currently under investigation. Charges against Jani Master include rape and criminal intimidation.

According to the complaint, the 21-year-old woman alleges that Jani Master assaulted her multiple times. She reportedly met Jani Master in 2017, becoming his assistant two years later. She claims that the assaults occurred during their travels for work in various cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The victim specifically alleges that the accused raped her in a shooting vehicle in Mumbai and threatened her to keep silent. She also reported assaults at her residence in Narsingi.

The complainant expressed fear for her safety, recounting an incident on August 28 where she found a threatening parcel outside her home that read, “this is your last shooting.” The woman claims that Jani Master also threatened to impact her career negatively by preventing future job opportunities.

Jani Master has a legal history; in 2019, he was sentenced to six months in prison by a court in Medchal over a 2015 altercation at a college. He faced various charges under the Indian Penal Code, including assault on a woman and criminal intimidation, although the assault charge was eventually quashed.

In addition to the current allegations, a previous complaint was lodged against Jani Master in June by a dancer named Satish. Satish accused him of harassment and obstructing his work opportunities in film shoots, an allegation which Jani Master denied.

Jani Master joined Jana Sena earlier this year in January in the presence of party leader Pawan Kalyan.