Sify Correspondent
Wednesday, 02 January , 2008, 16:38
Mumbai: The family members and friends of US-based NRI designer Anand Jon, who has been in American jails for nearly nine months now, said that he may be a victim of "racial discrimination" has decided to take the battle ahead and rest only when the youth is free.
Jon's sister Sanjana Jon has met leading lawyer Majeed Memon, and at a hurriedly convened news conference on Wednesday and they alleged that Anand has been made a victim of circumstances because fame and fortune was coming to him. They also did not rule out racial discrimination. Anand reportedly faces charges like molestation and sexual abuse.
Memon, who has taken up several high profile briefs including defending music composer Nadeem in the United Kingdon, has said that they will approach the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of External Affairs. "My first duty will be to approach the US attorneys, who till now had been defending him," he said.
They will also approach the Human rights commission in India and in US besides other international human rights organisation. "We are going to talk about legal rights, human rights and constitutional rights," he said.
Sanjana broke down several times as she narrated what she and her mother went through since the last few months. "Anand has been kept in solitary confinement, he is chained – and this we have seen when we met him in the Los Angeles jail," she said.
Memon said that the charges against Jon will not stand before a "judicial mind". "Some of the charges are like attempt being made to kiss," he said and pointed out that where rape has been alleged – the DNA examination has turned out to be negative.
Sanjana said that it all started when Anand was about to receive lot of money for his projects after the Wall Street Journal evaluated his brand value at USD 10 million and nearly USD 10 to 15 million was expected. "Neither does he smoke, drink nor he is into drugs," she said.
"Some people could not digest his astronomical success," Memon said hinting out at some US fashion industry lobby may be involved in defaming him. "Racial discrimination can be there," he said and pointed out that the irony is that there are 30 to 40 different cases in different places.
(Appeared at Sify.com)
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)
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)
Sister bats for ‘demonised’ designer
Mumbai, Jan. 2 (PTI): Indian designer Anand Jon, who is facing a slew of sexual assault and molestation charges in the US, is “being demonised” because of his success in the American fashion industry, his sister alleged today.
“This demonisation is (happening) because he broke into an industry where Americans find it difficult to break into,” Sanjana Jon, his US-based sister, said in Mumbai.
Anand, an Indian citizen, is facing complaints of rape or molestation from 30 women in several states of the US. He has been in jail in Los Angeles since June 2007.
“All these complaints started coming after Anand’s company got funded.… Some of them date back to five years. Why did these girls not file complaints immediately?” Sanjana said, fighting back tears.
According to her, when the first of these complaints was filed on March 6, 2007, Anand was about to launch his denim line in association with a company called Genisis.
Her lawyer Majeed Memon, too, said there was a possibility that “Anand’s phenomenal success raised a few eyebrows. They could not digest it” and “connived” to implicate him in false cases.
“Racial discrimination could be a factor,” Memon added.
The lawyer said some of the complaints were “ridiculous and absurd” and added that there was no medical evidence of sexual assault in any of the cases.
Sanjana said the allegations made no “sense” because the complainants continued to go around with Anand after the alleged incidents.
“Some of them came to India with us after the incidents. Does this make sense?”
Asked what help she expected from the government, Sanjana said she merely wanted to make people aware of her brother’s predicament through the Indian media.
Memon, a member of the Nationalist Congress Party, said they would approach the Prime Minister’s Office.
(Appeared in The Telegraph)
“This demonisation is (happening) because he broke into an industry where Americans find it difficult to break into,” Sanjana Jon, his US-based sister, said in Mumbai.
Anand, an Indian citizen, is facing complaints of rape or molestation from 30 women in several states of the US. He has been in jail in Los Angeles since June 2007.
“All these complaints started coming after Anand’s company got funded.… Some of them date back to five years. Why did these girls not file complaints immediately?” Sanjana said, fighting back tears.
According to her, when the first of these complaints was filed on March 6, 2007, Anand was about to launch his denim line in association with a company called Genisis.
Her lawyer Majeed Memon, too, said there was a possibility that “Anand’s phenomenal success raised a few eyebrows. They could not digest it” and “connived” to implicate him in false cases.
“Racial discrimination could be a factor,” Memon added.
The lawyer said some of the complaints were “ridiculous and absurd” and added that there was no medical evidence of sexual assault in any of the cases.
Sanjana said the allegations made no “sense” because the complainants continued to go around with Anand after the alleged incidents.
“Some of them came to India with us after the incidents. Does this make sense?”
Asked what help she expected from the government, Sanjana said she merely wanted to make people aware of her brother’s predicament through the Indian media.
Memon, a member of the Nationalist Congress Party, said they would approach the Prime Minister’s Office.
(Appeared in The Telegraph)
Majeed to defend NRI in US
V Narayan & Divya Unny
Thursday, January 03, 2008 09:53 IST
Noted criminal lawyer Majeed Memon has an overseas assignment. He would take a flight to the US by the end of this month to defend NRI designer Anand Jon, who has 34 rape and molestation charges against his name.
The accused has been on trial for the past seven months in the courts at Los Angeles and Texas.
Anand’s sister Sanjana met Memon in the city to ensure that he would be there in the US, fighting for her brother, when the case comes up for hearing on January 30.
Sanjana said, “We fear that Anand would not be given a fair chance to defend himself. Perhaps, only a lawyer India would fight for him without prejudice.”
Memon said, “I will place the matter before the prime minister and the external affairs ministry by mid-January. It will help me get detailed information from the Indian embassy in the US.”
Anand was arrested on March 6 for allegedly molesting and raping 34 women. But according to his sister, the charges were fabricated. Memon said, “One of the charges against him was that he tried to kiss a woman.
He has also been accused of raping a woman. But when it was checked, it was found that the victim had said to the police that the alleged rape happened a year ago. There are many such baseless charges filed against him.”
The lawyer would also appeal to the international human rights commission to get Anand justice. Sanjana said that her brother had been kept in chains for the past seven months.
Repeated pleas for bail went in vain. “Anand was out on bail once, just for a month. He was rearrested in May and had since been in jail,” she said.
Sanjana made it clear that her brother was a victim of racial discrimination. “We have documentary evidences showing how the girls had been conspiring against Anand, but we have not been given a chance to prove our point.”
(Appeared in DNA - Daily News and Analysis)
Thursday, January 03, 2008 09:53 IST
Noted criminal lawyer Majeed Memon has an overseas assignment. He would take a flight to the US by the end of this month to defend NRI designer Anand Jon, who has 34 rape and molestation charges against his name.
The accused has been on trial for the past seven months in the courts at Los Angeles and Texas.
Anand’s sister Sanjana met Memon in the city to ensure that he would be there in the US, fighting for her brother, when the case comes up for hearing on January 30.
Sanjana said, “We fear that Anand would not be given a fair chance to defend himself. Perhaps, only a lawyer India would fight for him without prejudice.”
Memon said, “I will place the matter before the prime minister and the external affairs ministry by mid-January. It will help me get detailed information from the Indian embassy in the US.”
Anand was arrested on March 6 for allegedly molesting and raping 34 women. But according to his sister, the charges were fabricated. Memon said, “One of the charges against him was that he tried to kiss a woman.
He has also been accused of raping a woman. But when it was checked, it was found that the victim had said to the police that the alleged rape happened a year ago. There are many such baseless charges filed against him.”
The lawyer would also appeal to the international human rights commission to get Anand justice. Sanjana said that her brother had been kept in chains for the past seven months.
Repeated pleas for bail went in vain. “Anand was out on bail once, just for a month. He was rearrested in May and had since been in jail,” she said.
Sanjana made it clear that her brother was a victim of racial discrimination. “We have documentary evidences showing how the girls had been conspiring against Anand, but we have not been given a chance to prove our point.”
(Appeared in DNA - Daily News and Analysis)
Sanjana in city to fight for brother Anand
3 Jan 2008, 0000 hrs IST,AFSANA AHMED ,Times of India
The fashion world might have given up on Indian-born, LA-based designer Anand Jon who is behind bars after several charges of rape and molestation were levelled against him last year.
But not designer sister Sanjana. The new year has brought her down to Mumbai. And from here, she intends to wage a war against the legal system in US that has done in her celebrity brother who once dressed the likes of Paris Hilton, Janet Jackson and Bruce Springsteen.
“I had immense faith in the American legal system but increasingly, I find things are getting murkier,” admitted Sanjana to BT yesterday. “I am here to appeal for my brother, not just as a sister, but as an Indian. He is being majorly victimised and discriminated there because of his colour,” alleged Sanjana.
Her only hope, now, appears to be Mumbai-based criminal lawyer Majeed Memon who believes the facts and circumstances of the case hint at a conspiracy by some powerful people in the US to ruin the hard-earned reputation by the talented Indian. “The possibility of racial discrimination cannot be wholly ruled out at this stage,” added Memon. “However, since our fight is primarily against the hurling of false, unsubstantiated and irresponsible allegations with extralegal motivation, we shall exercise constraint before accusing anyone and get to the bottom of the truth.”
Of the charges levelled against her brother, Sanjana said, “Being a woman, I will support and do anything for a rape victim. But if the woman is lying for selfish intention, then she needs to be thoroughly punished. And I have enough material to prove that Anand is increasingly getting buried in lie after lie. He is tied to the wall with a chain. His civil rights have been taken away. What sort of justice is this?”
According to her, an attempted kiss in greeting here and a touch there while taking measurements have been trumped up into rape charges. “Some of the girls who have filed charges against Anand have hung out and partied with us even after their alleged ‘rapes’ of five years ago. Isn’t that ridiculous,” asked Sanjana.
She believes Anand’s success, the funding of his company, and Wall Steet Journal evaluating the business at $10 million has made all the ‘victims’ greedy.
(Article appeared in Times of India)
The fashion world might have given up on Indian-born, LA-based designer Anand Jon who is behind bars after several charges of rape and molestation were levelled against him last year.
But not designer sister Sanjana. The new year has brought her down to Mumbai. And from here, she intends to wage a war against the legal system in US that has done in her celebrity brother who once dressed the likes of Paris Hilton, Janet Jackson and Bruce Springsteen.
“I had immense faith in the American legal system but increasingly, I find things are getting murkier,” admitted Sanjana to BT yesterday. “I am here to appeal for my brother, not just as a sister, but as an Indian. He is being majorly victimised and discriminated there because of his colour,” alleged Sanjana.
Her only hope, now, appears to be Mumbai-based criminal lawyer Majeed Memon who believes the facts and circumstances of the case hint at a conspiracy by some powerful people in the US to ruin the hard-earned reputation by the talented Indian. “The possibility of racial discrimination cannot be wholly ruled out at this stage,” added Memon. “However, since our fight is primarily against the hurling of false, unsubstantiated and irresponsible allegations with extralegal motivation, we shall exercise constraint before accusing anyone and get to the bottom of the truth.”
Of the charges levelled against her brother, Sanjana said, “Being a woman, I will support and do anything for a rape victim. But if the woman is lying for selfish intention, then she needs to be thoroughly punished. And I have enough material to prove that Anand is increasingly getting buried in lie after lie. He is tied to the wall with a chain. His civil rights have been taken away. What sort of justice is this?”
According to her, an attempted kiss in greeting here and a touch there while taking measurements have been trumped up into rape charges. “Some of the girls who have filed charges against Anand have hung out and partied with us even after their alleged ‘rapes’ of five years ago. Isn’t that ridiculous,” asked Sanjana.
She believes Anand’s success, the funding of his company, and Wall Steet Journal evaluating the business at $10 million has made all the ‘victims’ greedy.
(Article appeared in Times of India)
Anand Jon's sister seeks India's help
Indo-Asian News Service
Mumbai, January 02, 2008
Indian designer Anand Jon, who faces a slew of charges related to sexual assault and molestation in the US, is a victim of racism and jealousy, his sister alleged on Wednesday.
"This demonisation is happening because he broke into an industry where Americans find difficult to break into," claimed Sanjana, Anand's younger sister.
Jon, an Indian citizen jailed in Los Angeles since June 2007, is facing charges of rape and molestation from 30 women in several American states.
According to Sanjana, the complaints started pouring in after the Wall Street valued his brand name at $10 million. She rubbished the entire sequence of events as illogical because the number of alleged victims continued to grow.
"After the valuation, his company started attracting more investments. Some of these complaints date back to five years. Why did these girls not file complaints immediately?" Sanjana told IANS, fighting back her tears.
The first complaint was filed on March 6, 2007, when Anand was planning to launch his denim line in association with a company called Genisis.
Jon's lawyer Majid Memon also felt there was a possibility that Anand's phenomenal success raised a few eyebrows.
"Jon's rivals could not digest his financial independence and his success, especially as he was an Indian. It is a well-planned conspiracy against him," Memon told IANS. He is planning to leave for the US soon to secure Jon's release.
He dubbed some of the complaints as ridiculous and absurd. He said there was no medical evidence of sexual assault in any of the cases.
Sanjana is seeking help of the Indian government in defending her brother and wants to create public awareness about her brother's plight as she thinks he has been unfairly targeted.
(Appeared in Hindustan Times)
Mumbai, January 02, 2008
Indian designer Anand Jon, who faces a slew of charges related to sexual assault and molestation in the US, is a victim of racism and jealousy, his sister alleged on Wednesday.
"This demonisation is happening because he broke into an industry where Americans find difficult to break into," claimed Sanjana, Anand's younger sister.
Jon, an Indian citizen jailed in Los Angeles since June 2007, is facing charges of rape and molestation from 30 women in several American states.
According to Sanjana, the complaints started pouring in after the Wall Street valued his brand name at $10 million. She rubbished the entire sequence of events as illogical because the number of alleged victims continued to grow.
"After the valuation, his company started attracting more investments. Some of these complaints date back to five years. Why did these girls not file complaints immediately?" Sanjana told IANS, fighting back her tears.
The first complaint was filed on March 6, 2007, when Anand was planning to launch his denim line in association with a company called Genisis.
Jon's lawyer Majid Memon also felt there was a possibility that Anand's phenomenal success raised a few eyebrows.
"Jon's rivals could not digest his financial independence and his success, especially as he was an Indian. It is a well-planned conspiracy against him," Memon told IANS. He is planning to leave for the US soon to secure Jon's release.
He dubbed some of the complaints as ridiculous and absurd. He said there was no medical evidence of sexual assault in any of the cases.
Sanjana is seeking help of the Indian government in defending her brother and wants to create public awareness about her brother's plight as she thinks he has been unfairly targeted.
(Appeared in Hindustan Times)
Anand Jon is treated like animal: Sister
Posted at Wednesday, 02 January 2008 20:01 IST .
Mumbai, Jan 2: Indian designer Anand Jon, who is facing a slew of charges related to sexual assault and molestation in United States, was "being demonised" because of his success in the American fashion industry, his sister alleged here today.
Appearing in RKB Show of Sahara Samay Mumbai, Sanjana told that her brother was kept in small cage from where he was taken out once in two days.
It was very hard for her to stop tears rolling down his face while she described the animal-like treatment being meted out to her brother in prison.
Sanjana told that her family was allowed to meet him once in two days. She also alleged that Anand was put in chains all the time.
She was surprised that this kind of inhuman treatment was meted out to her brother barely on the basis of accusations.
Jon, an Indian citizen, is facing complaints of either rape or molestation from 30 women in several states of the US. Since June this year, he has been in jail in Los Angeles.
Mumbai, Jan 2: Indian designer Anand Jon, who is facing a slew of charges related to sexual assault and molestation in United States, was "being demonised" because of his success in the American fashion industry, his sister alleged here today.
Appearing in RKB Show of Sahara Samay Mumbai, Sanjana told that her brother was kept in small cage from where he was taken out once in two days.
It was very hard for her to stop tears rolling down his face while she described the animal-like treatment being meted out to her brother in prison.
Sanjana told that her family was allowed to meet him once in two days. She also alleged that Anand was put in chains all the time.
She was surprised that this kind of inhuman treatment was meted out to her brother barely on the basis of accusations.
Jon, an Indian citizen, is facing complaints of either rape or molestation from 30 women in several states of the US. Since June this year, he has been in jail in Los Angeles.
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