Indian man on trial in Paris court over running online child abuse network

An Indian man accused of running an online network that coerce underage girls to sexual acts and self-harm, went on trial in Paris on Monday.

The 29-year old man, Rohan Rane, who came to Paris to study at a business school is being tried out before a special criminal court, France 24 reported.

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Concise summary of key highlights

Indian man on trial in Paris over running online child abuse network

In one line

An Indian man has gone on trial in France for allegedly leading an online ring that coerced teenage girls into sexual acts and self-harm.

Key highlights

• Trial of Rohan Rane

Twenty-nine-year-old Rohan Rane went on trial in Paris before a special criminal court, facing charges including torture, organised extortion, and distributing child abuse material.

• Modus Operandi of CVLT

Operating on Discord, the neo-Nazi group CVLT used sextortion and threats to force vulnerable teenage girls into performing sexual acts and harming themselves.

• Global Impact and Victims

The investigation identified around 100 victims globally, with five US women joining the case as civil parties to testify via video link.

• Security and Court Measures

The trial is being held behind closed doors following threats made by the group against US prosecutors, witnesses, and victims.

Key statistics

29-year-old

Age of the accused

2021

Year of arrest

12-year-old

Age of victim reported by US Centre

Around 100

Estimated number of victims globally

Between 18 and 21

Ages of US women joining as civil parties

Processed with AI. Reviewed by DH Digital Team.

The case came to light in November 2020 when the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children flagged online material involving a 12-year-old girl, as per the report. Rane was then arrested in 2021 for multiple charges, including torture or acts of barbarity against minors, organised extortion and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Investigators found that Rane was part of an online community known as CVLT on the Discord messaging platform. The group was used by members to promote neo-Nazi, racist and anti-Semitic views, while targeting vulnerable teenage girls, as per the French national daily Le Monde.

The alleged "sextortion" was used by the group to get nude images and then threaten victims with their publication or various other forms of intimidation, eventually forcing some girls to perform sexual acts or harm themselves, the newspaper said.

The victims involved around 100 of underage girls across several countries, including the United States, Britain, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Estonia and the Netherlands.

The trial is expected to continue through Friday and, if found guilty, Rane could face life imprisonment, according to the report.

Five woman from the US aged between 18 and 21 have also joined the case as civil parties and will testify by video link during the proceedings, France24 reported.

The trial will be held behind closed doors upon request from US authorities, citing concerns of intimidation of victims and witnesses from the alleged group, the report said.