Jani Master, renowned choreographer, held for 'raping' assistant

HYDERABAD: National award-winning choreographer Jani Master was arrested from a hotel in Goa on Thursday for allegedly raping his assistant choreographer. Police officials said Master was staying at the hotel to avoid arrest but they managed to track him down. He will be produced before a court in Hyderabad on Friday.

Master's wife, Sumalatha alias Ayesha, also a choreographer, said there was no truth in the allegations and claimed a "larger conspiracy" behind the complaint against her husband.

Master's wife, accused by woman of harassing her, to also be probed
Cyberabad police commissioner Avinash Mohanty told TOI that Master was produced before a local court in Goa after being arrested and is being brought to Hyderabad on a transit warrant. Officials added that Master's wife will also be investigated as the complainant had accused her of abusing and harassing her.

Police officials confirmed that Master had been missing since Wednesday and had switched his phone off in a bid to delay his arrest.

Police had initially registered a case of rape, criminal intimidation and assault against Master on Sept 15. Later, after recording the woman's statement, sections of the Pocso Act were added to the FIR.

The woman had started working with Master when she was still a minor. She was allegedly first harassed in 2019 when she was 16.

Master's wife Sumalatha said, "The allegation is disgusting. There is no truth in it. If the girl can show evidence, I will leave Master," she said, adding that her husband was being targeted with ulterior political motives to ruin his career.

On comments about 'love jihad', Sumalatha said the allegations were false. "I follow Hindu traditions and he also takes part in Hindu festivities. There is no question of love jihad," she said.

Meanwhile, Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC), which is conducting an enquiry, said it would make report available to any govt agency that may want it.

"Though the time limit for completing an inquiry is 90 days, it will be completed much sooner as the preliminary enquiry has been completed. We will provide our report to whichever govt agency asks for it. They can also have access to versions of both sides," K Damodar Prasad, honorary secretary and convenor of sexual harassment redressal committee in TFCC, told TOI.