Anand Jon's sister seeks Govt. intervention, threatens hunger strike

New Delhi, Sep.1 (ANI): Sanjana Jon, sister of celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon has appealed to the Government to intervene in the case of her brother, failing which she would observe hunger strike.

On Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court sentenced Anand Jon to 59 years in prison for sexually assaulting aspiring models as young as 14 years in age.

Sanajana said that she would observe a hunger strike, if her pleas for help at the inter-governmental level were not paid heed to.

"My appeal is for intervention and I have said if I don't get any help, my only resort, last resort would be to sit on a hunger strike till my voice is heard," said Sanjana Jon.

In Bangalore, Anand Jon's fashion designer friend and stage artiste, Prasad Bidappa expressed sorrow at the American court's judgement.

"Anand Jon case, I find particularly sad because I feel he was truly a very good talent; somebody who, I think, was taking India's torch forward in terms of fashion. I feel very sad that it had to come to an end like this," said Prasad Bidappa.

Last November, thirty five-year-old Jon was found guilty of 16 counts, including rape, sexual battery and performing lewd acts on a child.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Wesley sentenced Jon to 59 years to life after denying his motions for a new trial.

Prosecutors said the crimes started in 2001 when Jon set up a fashion design business through which he lured would-be models to Los Angeles.

Later, the police got involved in March 2007 after a woman said she was sexually assaulted at his Beverly Hills apartment.on, whose full name is Anand Jon Alexander, denied the charges. His lawyers said the girls and young women were revenge seekers who had made up their stories or who had 'invited what happened', and that in the case, there had been least physical evidence.

The Indian-born designer was profiled on the TV show 'America's Next Top Model' in 2003 and selected by Newsweek magazine as one of the world's most successful South Asians in 2004. (ANI)