Choreographer Jani Master booked for allegedly assaulting 21-year-old colleague
What's the story
Prominent Tollywood choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, known as Jani Master, has been accused of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman, reported The Hindu.
The alleged victim is also a choreographer who has been working closely with Jani for several months.
A zero First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against him based on her complaint to the Raidurgam police in Hyderabad.
Here are more details on this.
Allegations
Victim alleges Jani assaulted her multiple times
The woman has alleged that Jani sexually assaulted her "multiple times" during their outdoor shoots in various cities, including Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
She also claimed that he assaulted her at her residence in Narsingi on several occasions.
Based on her statement, a zero FIR was booked by the Raidurgam police and it has subsequently been transferred to Narsingi police for further investigation.
Legal action
Jani booked under several IPC sections
Jani has been booked under clause (2) and (n) of Section 376 (rape), criminal intimidation (506), and voluntarily causing hurt (323) of the Indian Penal Code.
The Director-General of Women Safety Wing Telangana, Shikha Goel, stated that people from the film fraternity reached out to her for guidance in this case.
She assured, "The case shall be investigated further as per protocol."
These recent allegations have emerged amid the raging #MeToo movement in Mollywood.
Previous case
Jani's history of legal trouble
Per The Hindu, in 2019, Jani was sentenced to six months in jail by a local court in Hyderabad in relation to a 2015 brawl case in a college.
He was booked under assault on a woman (section 354), causing hurt (324), and criminal intimidation (506).
Eventually, the assault charge was quashed and the punishment was meted out under the remaining sections.