Thursday, January 3, 2008

Sister of jailed Indian-born US designer Anand Jon pleads for justice

Sister of Indian-born US fashion designer Anand Jon has pleaded for justice for her brother, calling him being demonized in the American fashion industry.

Anand Jon, 33, a rising designer who has dressed socialite Paris Hilton and singer Janet Jackson, has been held in jail on charges of raping or sexually assaulting 20 young would-be models.

Sanjana Jon said her brother paid the price for his success in the American fashion industry.

"This demonization of Jon is basically because he succeeded in an industry where Americans find it difficult to break into and he did break in and made a mark. 2007 Newsweek picked him as someone to watch out for with Hillary Clinton and Obama Barak on the cover, the only designer to have been picked up was Anand," said Sanjana.

"Last year, Wallstreet evaluated Anand Jon as the brand name at 10 million and they were going to put another 10-15 million into the company. This is where the whole problem started. If you look at the case people are going back to five years, why did they come now only when the company got funded?," she added.
Sanjana's lawyer said they would appeal against the charges.
"Our fight itself is basically against hurling false and baseless and unsubstantiated allegations. We will make out a case that we have sufficient circumstances, sufficient facts and material which would make out a strong case of our apprehensions being justified," said Majid Memon. nand Jon, who has appeared on the U.S. TV show "America's Next Top Model" and was named by Newsweek magazine in its list of people to watch in 2007, was arrested in March last year at his Beverly Hills home.

He was initially charged with rape, sexual battery, lewd acts on a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. (ANI)

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