Charles Sobhraj, often referred to as “The Serpent” or “The Bikini Killer,” is a name that sends shivers down the spine of many. Born on April 6, 1944, in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, Sobhraj’s life story reads like a crime thriller
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. His real name was Hotchand Bhawnani Gurmukh Sobhraj, and he was the son of an Indian father and a Vietnamese mother
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. His early life was marked by abandonment and hardship, which set the stage for his future criminal activities
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Sobhraj’s criminal career began in his teenage years, and he quickly escalated from petty crimes to more serious offenses
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. He was known for his ability to manipulate and charm his way into the lives of his victims, often targeting Western tourists traveling the “Hippie Trail” through South Asia in the 1970s
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. Fluent in several languages and armed with a stash of forged passports, Sobhraj would gain the trust of his victims, often by offering them food or drinks spiked with poison
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. Once incapacitated, his victims became vulnerable to robbery, and in some cases, murder
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One of Sobhraj’s most infamous crimes involved the murder of Teresa Knowlton, a 21-year-old whose body was found floating in Pattaya, Thailand, dressed in a bikini
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. This led to his nickname, “The Bikini Killer.” His crimes were not limited to Thailand; he operated across several countries, including India, Nepal, and France
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. His ability to evade authorities earned him the moniker “The Serpent.”
In 1976, Sobhraj was arrested in India and sentenced to prison
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. However, his time behind bars did not mark the end of his criminal activities
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. In 1986, he masterminded a dramatic escape from Tihar Jail in Delhi, India, by faking a birthday celebration and drugging the food given to the guards
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. This escape only added to his legend and notoriety.
Despite his criminal activities, Sobhraj has managed to maintain a certain level of celebrity status
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. His life has been the subject of several books, documentaries, and even a Bollywood film titled “Main Aur Charles.” In 2021, an eight-part BBC/Netflix drama series called “The Serpent” brought his story to a wider audience
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In December 2022, Sobhraj was released from prison in Nepal on the grounds of old age and poor health
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. He was deported to France, where he currently resides
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. His release has reignited interest in his life and crimes, with the recent Netflix series “Black Warrant” focusing on his time in Tihar Jail and his interactions with rookie jailer Sunil Gupta
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Sobhraj’s story is a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the lengths some will go to evade justice. His ability to charm and manipulate, combined with his cunning and resourcefulness, made him one of the most dangerous criminals of his time. Whether you find him fascinating or horrifying, there’s no denying that Charles Sobhraj’s legacy will continue to captivate and terrify for years to come.
If you’re interested in learning more about Charles Sobhraj, you can watch the trailer for the Netflix series “Black Warrant” here.
What do you think about Sobhraj’s story? Does it intrigue you, or do you find it disturbing?
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en.wikipedia.org
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CNN-News18
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