Indian Coach Rohit Rane Sentenced to 20 Years in France for Child Abuse Network

A Paris court sentenced 29‑year‑old Indian Rohit Rane to 20 years in prison on Friday for his role in an international child‑abuse ring. The ring, known as CVLT, recruited girls – most of them minors – through the Discord platform and forced them to perform sexual acts. Victims were drawn from the UK, United States and Canada, and at least three other group members are currently held in the US. Rane, described by French prosecutors as a “Nazi lover, sadist and macabre ultra‑violence,” was convicted of sexual extortion and acts of torture against a minor. Prosecutors had asked for a 30‑year term, but the judge imposed the maximum 20‑year sentence for the charges. Court observers said Rane showed no reaction when the verdict was read.

Background

Rane hails from Pune, Maharashtra, and moved to France where he worked as a sports coach after studying at a commercial school in Antibes. He was arrested in Antibes in 2021 following alerts from US authorities. Initially he called the case a “misunderstanding,” later admitting he administered the Discord group and enjoyed watching violent videos.

Reaction

Lawyer Hippolyte Marquetty, representing five US victims, said the abuse has “extremely damaging consequences” and shattered the victims’ lives. He stressed that the victims want a sentence that matches the severity, protects society and prevents any chance of immediate release or re‑offending.

Context

Online platforms like Discord can be misused to lure vulnerable children, making cross‑border cooperation essential for tracking and prosecuting such networks.