On Thursday, the Telangana High Court granted bail to choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, also known as Jani Master. According to TOI, the choreographer, who had been in Chanchalguda Central Jail for slightly more than a month, was granted release with conditions.
Jani was arrested in September by the Narsingi police of the Cyberabad Commissionerate under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after a colleague accused her of sexual abuse. The 21-year-old girl said that the choreographer harassed and sexually attacked her for six years while she worked with him.
As per the publication, Jani’s senior attorney, C Pratap Reddy, stated that there were various opinions about her age. He further mentioned that neighbours’ testimony suggested that they moved freely together, indicating a ‘consensual connection’. His counsel also claimed that the POCSO case was ‘uncalled for’ and that the complaint was brought for ‘ulterior motivations’. However, public prosecutor Palle Nageshwar Rao opposed the bail application, citing that the victim’s age would be determined throughout the investigation.
Justice Juvvadi Sridevi granted Jani bail with several restrictions. He is required to attend court sessions and participate with the investigation into the matter under the terms of his bail. He was also advised not to contact the victim, speak with the media about the matter, or leave the country. Jani was earlier given interim bail for four days so that he could accept the National prize for which he had been nominated, but his prize was annulled.
The producers of Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule, Naveen Yerneni and Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar, announced during a press conference in Hyderabad on Thursday that the film will be released in theatres on December 5. Jani had choreographed the song Sooseki and was scheduled to do a special number for the film. However, producer Naveen stated, “We’ve already selected another choreographer for the song, so he’s (Jani) not doing it.”