Trial opens in Paris for Indian man accused of leading online child exploitation network
A closed-door trial has begun in Paris against 29-year-old Indian national Rohan Rane, accused of leading a neo-Nazi online group that coerced underage girls into sexual acts and self-harm. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted.
A criminal trial opened behind closed doors in Paris on Monday against Rohan Rane, a 29-year-old Indian national accused of masterminding an international online child exploitation ring. Investigators believe the network targeted mostly minor girls across several countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Britain and Estonia.
According to investigators, the ring's members came from Germany, New Zealand and the United States and coordinated through the messaging app Discord. They reportedly held racist and antisemitic views and expressed hostility toward feminists and the LGBTQ+ community. Rane had come to France to study at a business school in Antibes before working as a fitness coach. He was arrested in 2021 and now faces charges including torture of minors, organized extortion, and distribution of child sexual abuse material. A conviction could bring a life sentence.
Coercion and abuse
The case originated from a November 2020 report by the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which flagged online images of a 12-year-old girl being urged to carve the name "Rohan" into her skin. Court documents from the US Department of Justice describe the group, known as CVLT, as built around neo-Nazism, nihilism and pedophilia.
Investigators found that members lured vulnerable minors through social media, pressured them into sending nude photos, then extorted or blackmailed them by threatening to publish the images. Victims, referred to by the group as "slaves," were allegedly forced into sexual acts, including with knives, and made to carve names or Nazi symbols into their skin. Members also reportedly encouraged victims to attempt suicide.
Five American women, now aged 18 to 21, joined the case as civil parties and were expected to testify by video link this week. The Paris court ordered the closed-door proceedings at the request of US authorities, citing past attempts by the group to intimidate victims and witnesses and threats made against US prosecutors. The trial, scheduled to run through Friday, is expected to include screenings of video material documenting the abuse.
