Sumit Satish Rastogi, a 36-year-old former massage therapist who worked at 4Ever Massage in Glenelg, has been accused of multiple sexual offences. Initially charged with rape, indecent filming and indecent assault, additional charges were brought against him after more women came forward with complaints.
Indian-origin Sumit is now facing three counts of rape, 57 counts of indecent assault and 52 counts of indecent filming dating back to October 2021. On Wednesday, Rastogi’s lawyer indicated that his client would admit to multiple indecent filming charges.
“There is a substantial amount of charges. I’m in Your Honour’s hands as to whether the court receives the information signed by Mr Rastogi indicating which charges he pleads,” he said.
The Magistrate lifted the suppression order protecting Rastogi’s identity and workplace after a request by the media, which was not opposed by either the prosecutor or defence lawyer.
“I understand identity is no longer an issue – I don’t choose to make any submissions in relation to extending that order,” said the prosecutor.
Following the first news of Mr Rastogi’s apprehension, an additional four women stepped forward claiming that he had committed indecent assault against them. As per earlier court proceedings, the authorities stated that there could be between 150 and 200 women identified from over 700 alleged indecent images discovered on his phone.
The charges against the man were first laid in July 2022, after multiple women came forward to police alleging that they had been assaulted during massage sessions. The man was initially charged with two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault, but further charges were laid after more women came forward.
In July 2022, South Australian detectives arrested the then 35-year-old man from Glenelg North for sexually assaulting two female clients at a massage clinic near the beach. The man was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in court today.
According to the police, one woman was indecently assaulted by the man during a massage on July 17 at a Glenelg clinic, while another woman was sexually assaulted by him at the same clinic three days later. Rastogi was charged with indecent assault, rape, and two counts of indecent filming.
On July 29, 2022, the police further found that he assaulted four more women at the same location. Rastogi, was not named till that time, and was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, two counts of indecent assault, and two counts of indecent filming.
During a hearing at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court, a prosecutor revealed that four additional women had come forward with allegations that the man had indecently assaulted them. All four women reported that the man had touched their breasts, and one of them said that he had also touched her vagina.
The prosecutor also stated that investigators had discovered 264 images of women on the man’s phone, which had been filmed without their knowledge and with an element of surreptitiousness. The prosecutor argued against the man’s request for bail, citing concerns that he might interfere with evidence or witnesses.
He also warned that the charges against the man were likely to become more serious, given the scale of the additional evidence that the police were investigating.
Rastogi also has a criminal past that dates back ten years, when he as a door-to-door salesman stole priceless jewellery from an elderly woman who had invited him inside her home.
However, the offender, Sumit Rastogi, then 27-year-old Indian student, expressed remorse, which helped him avoid a jail term during his court hearing at Blacktown Local Court. Despite pleading guilty to stealing the jewellery, Rastogi was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
The 36-year-old accused plans to dispute the charges of rape and indecent assault. Mr Rastogi chose not to comment when approached outside the courtroom. His next court appearance is scheduled for June.
