A court in Paris, France, has sentenced a 29-year-old Indian man, Rohan Rane, to 20 years in prison for leading an international criminal group accused of sexually extorting and torturing young girls, many of them minors.

Rane was sentenced on Friday after a trial in which prosecutors described him as a follower of neo-Nazi ideology, sadism and extreme violence.

Prosecutors had sought a 30-year prison term for the defendant, who was found guilty of offences including extortion committed by an organised gang, with aggravating circumstances involving torture and acts of barbarity against minors.

Vulnerable Children Targeted Across Countries

The court heard that the group, known as “CVLT”, targeted vulnerable children in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, coercing them into producing violent and sexual videos.

Most of the identified victims were American girls, several of whom were younger than 15 at the time of the alleged abuse.

According to prosecutors, the network also attracted young male members from countries including the United States, India, Germany and New Zealand.

Authorities identified approximately 20 victims, although some could not be contacted. Six girls, now aged between 18 and 21, formally filed complaints that helped bring the case before the court.

Group Driven by Extremist Ideology

Prosecutors described CVLT as a group driven by nihilism, racism, antisemitism, Nazi-inspired imagery and hostility towards feminists and LGBTQ+ people.

The group allegedly used these extremist beliefs alongside coercion and sexual extortion to control and abuse its victims.

The court found Rane guilty following five days of hearings, most of which were held behind closed doors to protect the victims and the sensitive nature of the evidence.

Court Delivers 20-Year Sentence

The sentence handed down on Friday was below the 30 years sought by prosecutors.

Rane was convicted of offences linked to the organised extortion of minors, with the court recognising the aggravating circumstances of torture and barbarity.

The case has highlighted the risks posed by online criminal networks that exploit vulnerable children across national borders and use digital platforms to facilitate abuse.

The investigation identified multiple victims, while prosecutors said the actual number could be higher because some individuals could not be reached.