Remedies Committee issues a restraining order against choreographer Johnny Master for suspending the post of TFTDDA chief.

Actor Jhansi, Advocate Kavya Mandav, Producer Vivek Kuchivotla, Producer Tammareddy Bharadwaja and Producer KL Damodar Prasad | Photo credit: Special Arrangements

A day after a zero first information report (FIR) was registered against choreographer Shaik Jani Basha aka Jani Master for sexual harassment, representatives of the Sexual Harassment Panel constituted by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce called a press conference. Interaction in Hyderabad on Tuesday (September 17, 2024). The move came after some television and social media outlets revealed the identity of the survivor, against Supreme Court guidelines. A 21-year-old female choreographer filed a complaint of sexual assault by Jani Master with the Rayadurgam police.

Sexual Harassment Panel Report within 90 days

KL Damodar Prasad, actor and chairperson Jhansi along with honorary secretary of the redressal committee and members including producer-director Tammareddy Bharadwaja, producer Vivek Kuchivotla, actor Pragati Mahavadi, social activist Ramalakshmi Medapati and advocate Kavya Mandav addressed the media. The panel said the committee’s parallel probe is going on fast track along with the police probe and a report will be submitted within 90 days. The Sexual Harassment Panel was formed in 2018 following a sexual harassment complaint by actor Sri Reddy.

Damodar Prasad and Jhansi revealed that the 21-year-old choreographer’s case came to light when he first approached two prominent television networks, who redirected him to the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC). Her initial complaint was that she was denied a membership card from the dancers’ union despite paying a fee of ₹6.5 lakh. “Her initial concern was the possibility of being denied employment opportunities if she was not issued a card. Further investigation by TFCC revealed alleged sexual harassment as the reason for the denial,” Ms Jhansi said.

The redressal panel, comprising producer Supriya Yarlagadda, Jhansi and others, learned that the problem was more serious than initially assumed. “The survivor was a minor (age 16) when the alleged assault began. It is difficult to shelter him within the framework of workplace harassment guidelines in an unorganized sector like the film industry, so we have directed him to take the legal route,” said Ms. Jhansi.

The report of the sub-committee is yet to be published

In June 2022, after conducting detailed inquiries with industry stakeholders, a report was submitted to the Telangana State Government by a sub-committee constituted under a high-level committee appointed by the State Government to formulate guidelines for creating workplaces. Safe for women. The report is yet to be published.

Representatives of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, along with support group Voice of Women and members of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Panel, held talks with the state government to take forward the report and help formulate guidelines for the film industry.

Meanwhile, the Redressal Committee is following the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Remedies) Act, 2013 (PoSH) to address complaints.

An interim order was issued by the inquiry committee to the male choreographer – who is the president of the Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Association (TFTDDA) – from serving as president till the probe is completed.

The police had earlier said that choreographer Johnny was booked under sections (2) and (n) of IPC section 376 (rape), criminal intimidation (506) and voluntary hurt (323).

Producers and actors on the panel emphasized that efforts are underway to ensure that survivors are not marginalized by the industry. “He is a talented choreographer who is now working on a few big budget productions, and the respective producers and a popular actor have expressed support for him,” Jhansi said.