The I & B ministry has suspended the National Award for best choreography to Jani Master following his arrest on charges of sexual assault under POCSO Act. His invitation to attend the awards ceremony on 8th October has also been revoked.
Jani Master, who was named best choreographer for the song Megham karukkuthu from Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam (2022), was arrested in Goa on 19th September this year. The police had registered a case against him on 15th September under various sections of IPC, including charges related to rape and assault. Relevant sections under the POCSO Act were added later, after it was found that the victim — a former assistant of his — was a minor at the time.
Jani Master was produced before a Hyderabad court which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. On 6th October, he was granted interim bail for four days (October 6 to 10) to attend the National Awards ceremony. The bail was cancelled following the suspension of the award.
