Paris court convicts leader of violent online cult
A Paris court handed a 20-year prison sentence to Rohan Rane, a 29-year-old Indian man, for leading a group that sexually exploited and tortured minors. Prosecutors said the network targeted vulnerable girls, mainly in the United States, and used threats to force them into producing violent and sexual videos. The group was described as neo-Nazi and misogynistic, operating largely on Discord.
Rane, 29, was convicted in Paris of organized sexual extortion and torture involving minors. Prosecutors had requested 30 years. Most victims were American girls, many younger than 15; six later filed complaints, and roughly 20 were identified.
The group, called CVLT, operated on Discord before the pandemic and drew members from several countries. Investigators said victims were targeted in online forums, threatened with exposure to family or friends, and sometimes forced to cut names or Nazi symbols into their skin. Rane had studied in Antibes and worked as a sports coach.
The case may heighten awareness of how online platforms can be exploited to groom and coerce minors, especially across borders. Families and survivors could feel both validated by the conviction and concerned about gaps in detection and support. It may also intensify debate over platform accountability, international cooperation, and whether closed proceedings balance victim privacy with public understanding. Law enforcement and child-protection groups might use it to push for earlier intervention.