Jani Master's National Film Award Suspended Amid Serious Allegations The National Film Awards Cell under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has suspended the National Film Award for Best Choreography awarded to Shaik Jani Basha, known professionally as Jani Master. This decision follows his recent conviction for the rape of a minor, bringing to light serious concerns regarding conduct within the entertainment sector. Jani Master was honored with the National Award for Best Choreography for his work on the song ‘Megham Karukkatha’ from the Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam, which he co-choreographed with Sathish Krishnan.
However, the award's suspension was announced shortly after he received a four-day interim bail, initially allowing him to participate in the upcoming National Film Awards ceremony. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a formal statement regarding the suspension, citing the gravity of the allegations against Jani Master. It confirmed that the Competent Authority has decided to revoke the National Film Award until further orders due to the serious nature of the accusations and the ongoing legal proceedings.
On September 19, 2024, Jani Master was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Cyberabad police in Goa. Following his arrest, he was presented in court and subsequently placed in 14-day judicial custody by the Upparpally court in Hyderabad. This custody has him held at Chanchalguda Central Jail.
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