In the wake of allegations of sexually assaulting a minor, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday suspended choreographer Jani Master’s National Film Award. Jani, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, had won the Best Choreography award for the song Megham Karukatha (Thiruchitrambalam, 2022), along with the track’s other choreographer Sathish Krishnan.

On Friday, the National Film Awards Cell of the I&B Ministry issued a statement signed by deputy director Indrani Bose: “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the matter being subjudice, the Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award of the Best Choreography for the Year 2022 to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam until further orders.”

The cell also withdrew their invitation to him to attend the award ceremony, which will be held in New Delhi on October 8.

Jani was apprehended in Goa by the Cyberabad police on September 19. Incidentally, he was given an interim bail this week so that he could attend the awards ceremony.

Jani was apprehended for allegedly sexually assaulting his assistant choreographer in 2020. It was found that she was a minor at the time of the alleged offence.