Rohan Rane jailed in France over abuse of girls

A Paris court sentenced Rohan Rane, a 29-year-old Indian man, to 20 years in prison Friday for leading a group that forced girls, many of them minors, to perform sexual acts and in some cases tortured them.

After five days of hearings, mainly behind closed doors, the court found Rane guilty of offences including extortion as part of an organised gang, with aggravating circumstances of torture and barbarity against victims.

Prosecutors had sought a 30-year sentence. They described Rane as the leader of “CVLT,” a masculinist online group driven by nihilism, racism, antisemitism, Nazi aesthetics and hatred of feminists and the LGBTQ+ community.

The court was told that most of the dozens of victims were American girls and that many were younger than 15. Six girls, now aged between 18 and 21, made official complaints. Prosecutors said about 20 victims were identified but others could not be contacted.

Investigators said vulnerable victims were targeted in online forums and persuaded to send nude images. The men then threatened to tell their families and school friends if they did not comply with demands. Investigators said many girls were Black or Jewish and were forced into sexual acts or self-harm.

Rane had gone to France to study at a commercial school in Antibes before becoming a sports coach. He was first arrested in France in 2021 after US authorities provided information about his alleged leadership of the group.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children first raised concerns in 2020 after discovering disturbing images of a 12-year-old online. US authorities have indicated that they will seek Rane's extradition after he serves his sentence in France.