Hyderabad: Telugu choreographer Jani Master has confessed to sexually assaulting a former employee, according to police reports. The victim, now 21, claims the abuse began when she was 16 years old.
The woman met Jani Master at an event in 2017 and was offered a job as an assistant choreographer in 2019. She alleges that the first incident of sexual assault occurred during a hotel stay in Mumbai while they were there for a show.
In her complaint, she stated that she was typically accompanied by her mother, but this time she traveled alone due to ticket issues. The victim accused Jani Master and two male assistants of threatening her with violence if she reported the abuse. She also described mental harassment during rehearsals and photoshoots.
Police documentation indicates that the victim was sexually abused multiple times over a four-year period. Additionally, she alleged that Jani Master attempted to force her to convert to his religion and pressured her into a forced “marriage.”
Jani Master was arrested in Bengaluru on Thursday and is expected to be transferred to Hyderabad for further proceedings. Following the allegations, he has been suspended by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and a workers’ union.
The case involves serious charges, including rape and criminal intimidation, and may be prosecuted under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences). Jani Master, who is affiliated with actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, has been ordered to refrain from participating in political events during this period.
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