Indian-origin massage therapist jailed in Australia for sexually abusing 61 women

An Australian court has sentenced a 39-year-old Indian-origin massage therapist to 13 years and 10 months in jail for sexually abusing 61 women at a massage parlour in Adelaide, with the judge describing his actions as “out of control” and lacking “any restraint until he was caught”.

The convict, Delhi-born Sumit Satish Rastogi, admitted to 97 offences, including 55 counts of indecent filming and 42 counts of aggravated indecent assault, according to ABC News.

The offences were committed between October 2021 and July 2022 at a massage business in Glenelg, a western suburb of Adelaide in South Australia.

Rastogi had moved from Delhi to Adelaide in 2011 and was arrested in July 2022. The court heard he had been working as an unqualified massage therapist during the period of the offences.

Several victims spoke in court about the lasting psychological impact of the abuse. One woman said the assault occurred during her honeymoon, turning what should have been “one of the happiest weekends” of her life into a traumatic memory. She told the court the incident destroyed her trust in male healthcare professionals, including doctors and physiotherapists, and affected communication within her marriage.

Another victim criticised delays in the legal process, saying more than 1,200 days had passed since the assault, preventing survivors from properly healing and seeking therapy.

The women also questioned the sincerity of Rastogi’s apology, saying it appeared to contain excuses rather than genuine accountability.

The defence argued that Rastogi had been diagnosed with voyeuristic disorder, a psychiatric condition involving sexual arousal from watching unsuspecting semi-naked women. Defence lawyer Adam Richards told the court the condition had remained untreated and could not be adequately addressed in prison.

“He cannot forgive himself and does not expect forgiveness from anyone else,” Richards said while repeating Rastogi’s apology.

However, South Australia District Court Judge Carmen Matteo said the diagnosis may explain the behaviour clinically but did not excuse the offences.

During sentencing, Judge Matteo said Rastogi targeted women who were “trusting, unsuspecting and entitled to safety, respect and dignity”. She said his conduct became increasingly serious over the nine months, especially after he began tampering with victims’ underwear and secretly recording invasive images.

“By June and July 2022, your offending had become out of control and showed no sign of restraint until the moment you were caught,” the judge said.

The court also noted it was “remarkable” that Rastogi had been able to work as a paid massage therapist despite lacking formal qualifications.

Rastogi was handed a sentence of 13 years and 10 months, with a non-parole period of 10 years and 10 months. The sentence was backdated to his arrest, meaning he could become eligible for parole in 2035.

The court was also told that he is likely to be deported from Australia after completing his prison term.