Jani Master arrested for rape, suspended from Telugu film industry

National Award-winning choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, known as Jani Master, was arrested by Cyberabad police on Thursday, days after being accused of rape by one of his assistants.

Jani Master, a celebrated figure in the Telugu film industry, faces serious allegations of sexually abusing and harassing a female assistant. Initially, the survivor approached the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) with complaints of being denied work, accusing Jani Master of sabotaging her career. The case was then transferred to the Sexual Harassment Redressal Panel to investigate potential sexual harassment. During questioning, the survivor claimed she had been repeatedly sexually assaulted by Jani Master in Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. She further alleged her career was derailed when she refused to comply with the accused's demands.

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"This wasn’t just about workplace harassment. The abuse continued over a prolonged period, under the pretence of preferential treatment, making the case more severe," said Jhansi, who is leading the investigation on behalf of the TFCC.

The survivor also alleged that she was a minor when the abuse began, prompting the police to file charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in addition to the rape allegations.

In response to the accusations, Jani Master has been suspended from the Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Associations. The TFCC has also placed additional restrictions on him to limit his influence within the industry.

The Jana Sena Party, led by Telugu superstar and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, has also suspended Jani Master from the party with immediate effect.

Jani Master has not yet issued any statement addressing the case. 

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