Hyderabad. Famous choreographer Jani Master has been arrested by the police after a woman working with him accused him of sexual harassment. Police gave this information on Thursday. Jani Master’s real name is Sheikh Jani.
A senior police official told PTI that Jani Master was arrested by Cyberabad police in Goa, where he will be produced in a local court. He will be brought to Hyderabad after obtaining a transit warrant from the court.
Cyberabad police have registered a case against Jani Master after a woman accused him of sexual harassment during an outdoor shooting.
The Raidurgam police registered a ‘zero FIR’ based on her complaint and transferred it to the Narsingi police station, the police station area of the victim, on Sunday night. According to the police, a case has also been registered against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Meanwhile, a committee formed by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has also begun investigating the sexual harassment allegations against Jani Master. Committee member Tammareddy Bharadwaj said that the committee will have to submit a report on the issue within 90 days from the date of receipt of the complaint from the victim.
Damodar Prasad, head of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee formed by the Film Chamber, said that a letter has been sent to the Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Association, stating that Jani Master should not be allowed to take charge of the post of president until he is cleared of all the allegations. Telangana State Women’s Commission Chairperson Nerella Sharada said on Wednesday that the complainant in the case has approached the commission. She said that orders will be issued to provide her police protection. Sharada said that the commission will also provide her the necessary assistance on behalf of the committee.
The issue also took a political turn and the Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha issued a statement saying that the party considers it a case of “love jihad”. The Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party has asked Jani Master to stay away from its programs in view of the case registered against him. Jani Master had campaigned for the party in the recently held elections.