Glenelg masseuse Sumit Rastogi pleads guilty to 45 more charges after abusing 40 female clients

A massage therapist who “abused his position of power” and preyed on 40 female clients has begged a court not to revoke his bail – for two very odd reasons.

A Glenelg massage therapist who “abused his position of power” and preyed on 40 female clients has begged a court not to revoke his bail because he has “food in the fridge” and a rental house to vacate.

In the South Australian District Court on Tuesday morning, Sumit Satish Rastogi called out from the dock, begging Judge Carmen Matteo to allow him “one more day” in the community before revoking his bail.

During a scheduled directions hearing, Rastogi, now 38, instead entered guilty pleas to 42 charges of aggravated indecent assault, and three charges of indecent filming.

Sumit Rastogi has pleaded guilty to 45 more indecent assault and filming charges. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

The indecent filming pleas add to an existing 52 counts of the same charge, which Rastogi had pleaded guilty to in April 2023.

Rastogi had been working as a massage therapist at 4ever massage in Glenelg when the shocking allegations came to light that police alleged were committed over an almost eight-month period at the massage parlour.

In court on Tuesday, Judge Matteo said Rastogi had pleaded guilty to abusing 40 adult women in the months between October 2021 and July 2022.

She said the indecent assault charges were aggravated by the fact Rastogi had abused a position of power.

Prosecutor Michael Foundas said Rastogi had abused a “number of complainants” who would want to share the impacts of his crime with the court.

“I anticipate quite a number of complainants, probably not all but a number, will want to give (victim impact) statements,” Mr Foundas said.

Adam Richards, for Rastogi, asked the court for a lengthy delay before sentencing in order to obtain psychological reports and prepare submissions.

His bail was revoked, despite Rastogi begging the court to free him for one more day. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Judge Carmen Matteo then turned to the question of revoking the former masseuse’s bail, given the number of victims involved and his admission of guilt.

After a brief adjournment, Mr Richards asked the court to allow his client to remain in the community so he could organise his belongings.

“He is in a rental property that is full of his things, down to his electrical equipment – TVs, fridges. There’s still food in his fridge,” Mr Richards said.

“The landlord is not aware that he may suddenly go missing.”

He said Rastogi has no family members in Australia, and therefore has no one to help him from the community if he were taken into custody.

However, Judge Matteo said she was not satisfied that those matters outweighed the significance of his offending, and refused to continue his bail.

“Your bail is revoked,” she said.

Rastogi then stood and begged Judge Matteo to “allow one more day” so he could tell his family.

“Please, please. One more day so I can tell my parents,” he said.

“Please just one more day.”The maximum penalty for aggravated indecent assault is 10 years imprisonment and the maximum penalty for indecent filming is a $10,000 fine or two years imprisonment.

Judge Matteo said she could not see a penalty imposed that did not involve “a significant period of imprisonment”.

He will remain in custody ahead of another directions hearing next month.

Originally published as Glenelg masseuse Sumit Rastogi pleads guilty to 45 more charges after abusing 40 female clients