Jani Master granted interim bail to attend the 70th National Film Awards

Jani Master

Choreographer Jani Master, also known as Shaik Jani Basha, has been granted interim bail to attend the 70th National Film Awards, despite facing serious allegations of sexual assault.

The temporary bail, effective from October 6 to October 10, requires him to surrender in court by 10:30 a.m. on October 10. The court granted the bail to allow him to attend the National Film Awards ceremony on October 8, where he is set to receive the prestigious Best Choreography award for his work in the Tamil film Thiruchitrabalam.

However, the decision to grant Jani Master bail has sparked criticism, particularly from singer Chinmayi Sripaada, who expressed her disappointment on social media. Taking to her X (formerly Twitter) account, Chinmayi wrote, "Jani Master confessed to sexually assaulting a minor. He gets bail to receive a National Award. India (sic)."

JaniMaster confessed to sexually assaulting a minor.He gets bail to receive a National Award.India. https://t.co/bu3lXSyOrI
Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) October 4, 2024

Jani Master was arrested following a complaint filed by a 21-year-old woman from Madhya Pradesh, who accused him of sexually assaulting her while she worked as his assistant choreographer. According to the complainant, she first met Jani Master in 2017 at an event, and in 2019, he offered her a position as his assistant. The alleged assault took place at a hotel in Mumbai during a show.

The woman also accused Jani Master of threatening her with physical violence if she reported the incident and claimed he mentally harassed her during photoshoots and rehearsals. According to her, Jani Master forced her to convert to his religion and marry him when she was only 16. The police remand report further revealed that the complainant was sexually abused multiple times over four years.

Jani Master, known for his choreography in blockbuster films such as Baahubali and Pushpa: The Rise, is also a member of actor-politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena party. On October 8, he will share the National Award with choreographer Satish Krishnan.

The bail decision has raised concerns, with many questioning the appropriateness of allowing someone facing such serious accusations to attend a national event and receive a prestigious award.