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Court hears 'paedophile' Net guru

Nirshan Perera

In his former life, Ranjit Sahota's wardrobe was definitely dot-com casual: neat slacks, say, and an expensive but understated open-throat shirt. But today the CEO and founder of MetaTV.com entered a San Francisco courtroom clad in a bright orange prison jump suit, rumpled and unshaven -- a ghost of his former self.

In federal custody on charges of paedophilia, Sahota, 36, kept his eyes glued to the ground throughout the brief hearing. He steadfastly avoided the eyes of the few onlookers peeking on the strange downfall of this much-heralded dot-com tycoon.

By all accounts, Sahota should have been the next Sabeer Bhatia. Buoyed by confident investors, his $60 million company was slowly but surely building the next 'big big thing': software that seamlessly integrated television with the Internet.

But if you look at MetaTV's corporate Web site now, there's absolutely no mention of Sahota. And not many people these days are dressing him up as a Silicon Valley success story.

On June 2, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Sahota for allegedly attempting to seduce a 14-year-old girl on the Internet. That girl, it turns out, was an FBI agent on the trail of a paedophile named 'Ron' who molested another 12-year-old girl he met online last summer.

In court on Thursday, Sahota stood quietly with his hands chained in front of him. His lawyer Dennis Roberts did all the talking, conferring with US attorney Devina Pujari and Judge Martin Jenkins.

The hearing, which lasted only a few minutes, was a routine status meeting to advise Sahota of all the charges and evidence against him. Last Tuesday, at another similar hearing, he waived an indictment and did not enter a plea.

On Thursday, Roberts requested a continuance to allow him to examine the validity of the search warrants used to seize computer equipment in Sahota's home and office. According to the FBI, forensic scientists have found evidence on the hard drives that Sahota regularly communicated with children for purposes of sexual activity.

Judge Jenkins agreed to the continuance, setting the next hearing for July 12. If a plea agreement is not reached, Sahota's trial must commence within 70 days, he said.

Sahota spoke only three words at the hearing, in response to a question from Judge Jenkins asking if he understood what was happening.

"Yes, Your Honour," he said, before he was led away to his jail cell by a marshal.

Outside the courtroom, Roberts brusquely pre-empted a question by a rediff.com reporter. "The answer is no. I don't make any comments on an ongoing case."

Attorney Pujari also would not answer any questions.

EARLIER REPORT:
Internet guru held for paedophilia

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