29-year-old Indian man tried in Paris for sexual extortion and torture of teenage girls via Discord

He describes himself as "masculinist" and "fascist". A 29-year-old Indian man is on trial from Monday October 5 before the specially composed Paris Assize Court, notably for sexual extortion, torture and barbaric acts. He faces life imprisonment for forcing teenage girls to mutilate themselves. The accused, Rohan Rane, lived in Antibes, near Cannes. The 13 victims were in the United States, England or the Netherlands and were between 12 and 18 years old. And this violence happened on the internet, on the Discord platform.

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The videos found by investigators are chilling. Teenage girls cut themselves live, under the orders of the accused, Rohan Rane, as well as other men. They exchange in a group, an online community, on the social network Discord. They are at home, he in his room in Antibes. Through interposed screens, he pushes the victims to carve his first name and swastikas on their skin, with razor blades.

Victims aged 12, 14 or 15 at the time of the events

Some go so far as to penetrate each other with knives. These girls, aged 12, 14 or 15, fell into a trap, on forums, according to lawyer Hippolyte Marquetty who represents six American victims: "For some, it starts with a meeting, then they talk, and little by little they can be led to take photos of themselves, sometimes naked, to give information about their family, where they live, explains the lawyer. With this data, the relationship is transformed, it threatened to call the police, to broadcast images of them to their entire community. There is such psychological pressure that they cannot get out of this system. If the FBI had not learned of this affair, some could have been pushed to commit suicide.

During a hearing in March 2025, the accused claims to be “guilty”. “I take responsibility for everything,” said Rohan Rane. He also assumes his ideology, masculinist and fascist. This Indian who came to France for studies is indeed fascinated by power. Investigators even credit him with a written guide that explains how to manipulate young girls into slaves. The victims are now in their twenties.

“We still have to imagine that some don’t even know the face of their attacker, they have never seen him.”

Maître Hippolyte Marquetty, lawyer for six victims

at franceinfo

While some are doing better, others are still fragile, according to their lawyer. Some will testify by videoconference, one even has to come in person to the hearing because they “need to come and tell the suffering they suffered, and to reverse a little the logic of power which was exercised at the time of the events”, details Hippolyte Marquetty. Also, to “look him straight in the eyes, say ‘this is what you did to me, I want you to be aware of it’”, he specifies.

By testifying, these young women also want to raise awareness about this online violence and hope to help other victims. This case is, however, far from being an isolated case. The e-childhood association warns of an “explosion” in France of cases of violence of this type on the Discord platform.

30-18 is the free national number for victims and witnesses of cyberharassment and digital violence.