Senior Telugu film industry choreographer and a national award winner Shaik Jani Basha, popularly known as Jani Master, was accused of sexual abuse and assault on multiple occasions by a woman, following which an FIR was registered on charges of rape, criminal intimidation, and voluntarily causing hurt.
The woman filed a complaint on September 11 with the Raidurgam police station, which registered a zero FIR, and transferred it to Narsingi police station. A women’s organisation helped her lodge the complaint after she sought their help.
The victim was first contacted by Jani after she signed a television show when she was 16 years old, officials said. According to the FIR, she received a call from Basha’s team to join as assistant choreographer.
According to her complaint, “sexual favours were demanded if she wanted to work.” She alleged she was only 16 when Basha first assaulted her in a Mumbai hotel room where he had summoned her during a shoot and threatened her she would not find work if she complained or told anyone about the incident.
An officer of Narsingi police station said they were also considering if Basha could be booked under the POCSO Act as the victim was a minor when she was first allegedly assaulted.
She alleged in her complaint that during every shoot or whenever the opportunity would arise, Basha exploited and sexually assaulted her.
Following the FIR, actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party asked him to stay away from the party’s functions and activities.
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According to the complaint, Basha allegedly put pressure on her to “convert and marry him.” She alleged she was forced to look for work elsewhere due to the alleged sexual assaults and harassment, which enraged Basha who, along with his wife, allegedly assaulted her.
According to the complaint, when she started avoiding Basha, work offers in Telugu film industry “dried up”. She allegedly received anonymous calls on August 17 and 28, warning her to be careful.
Officers said that Basha has choreographed hit songs like Throw Bomma in Allu arjun’s 2020 movie ALA VAIKUNTHAPURAMULOO. He received a national award for the song ‘Megham Karukatha’ in thiruchitrambalam.
