Paris court begins trial of Indian student accused of sexual torture and online extremist crimes
The special assize court in Paris started hearing the case of Rohan Rane, a 22-year-old Indian student, on charges including torture of minors and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
On Monday, the Paris special assize court opened the trial of Rohan Rane, a 22-year-old Indian student formerly enrolled in Antibes. He is charged with twelve offences, including torture or barbaric acts on a minor, possession and dissemination of pedocriminal images, incitement of a minor to undergo sexual mutilation, corruption of a minor, and organized extortion. Authorities link Rane to a Discord-based community named “CVLT,” which investigative reporting identified as a hub for violent, nihilist, racist and masculinist extremist content.
The group allegedly forced adolescent girls to record themselves performing self-injury and extreme sexual acts through sexual blackmail. The case underscores the challenge of prosecuting online extremist networks that exploit digital messaging services to orchestrate sexual violence against minors.
Why it matters
The trial exposes how extremist online groups use digital platforms to perpetrate sexual abuse and coercion against minors.
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