Charles Sobhraj, born on April 6, 1944, is a French serial killer, fraudster, and thief notorious for his crimes in the 1970s. He targeted Western tourists traveling the "hippie trail" in South and Southeast Asia. Known as the "Bikini Killer" due to some female victims being found in bikinis, and "The Serpent" for his ability to repeatedly evade authorities, Sobhraj remains one of the most infamous criminals of the 20th century.BackgroundBirth: Charles Sobhraj was born on April 6, 1944, in Saigon, Vietnam. His father was an Indian Sindhi, and his mother was Vietnamese. His parents never married, and his father denied paternity.
Childhood: Raised by his mother and her new husband, a French soldier, Sobhraj grew up moving between France and French Indochina, gaining French citizenship. As a teenager, he engaged in petty crimes like theft and fraud, leading to time in a juvenile detention facility in France.
Criminal Activities Murders: Sobhraj is suspected of killing at least 20 tourists in the 1970s across South and Southeast Asia, with 14 murders linked to Thailand. He lured victims with charm, drugged them using sedatives, robbed them, and then killed them.
Fraud: Using forged passports and fake identities, Sobhraj deceived tourists. He operated a curio shop in Bangkok as a front for his criminal activities, using it to target victims.
Escape from Tihar Jail: In India, Sobhraj was arrested in 1976. In 1986, during a staged birthday celebration, he escaped Tihar Jail by drugging guards with laced sweets and stealing a gatekeeper’s keys. He was recaptured in Goa after 22 days.
Imprisonment India (1976–1997): Sobhraj spent 21 years in Tihar Jail, Delhi, for manslaughter and other charges. Released in 1997, he returned to France.YUISI Sun Hat for Men Women, Breathable Summer Hat for Travel, Hiking, Gardening, Sun Hats for Men & Round Sun Cap for Hiking, Hats for Women Indoor Outdoor Activities
Nepal (2003–2022): Identified by a journalist, Sobhraj was arrested in Nepal in 2003 for murders committed in 1975. He was sentenced to life imprisonment (20 years in Nepal) and released on December 23, 2022, due to his age and health, returning to France.
Personal Life Marriages: Sobhraj married Chantal Compagnon, a French woman, in the 1970s, with whom he has a daughter. Later, in 2008, he reportedly married Nihita Biswas, the daughter of his Nepalese lawyer, while in prison, though Nepalese authorities denied the marriage.No Further Need for Custody of Mask Man Chinnayya in Dharmasthala Case: SIT Has All Required Information
Personality: Known for his charismatic and manipulative nature, Sobhraj was skilled in conversation and exploited his notoriety for media attention.
Charles Sobhraj in Media Main Aur Charles (2015): A Bollywood film starring Randeep Hooda, based on Sobhraj’s escape from Tihar Jail.
The Serpent (2021): An eight-part BBC/Netflix series featuring Tahar Rahim as Sobhraj.
Black Warrant (2025): A Netflix India series with Sidhant Gupta portraying Sobhraj.
Inspector Zende (2025): A Netflix series with Jim Sarbh in a role inspired by Sobhraj.
Current Status Charles Sobhraj is still alive. On December 21, 2022, Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered his release from prison due to his age (78 years). He returned to France on December 23, 2022, and is currently living there as a free man, barred from returning to Nepal for 10 years.