CHARLES SOBHRAJ:

Born as Hotchand Bhawnani Gurmukh Sobhraj on April 6, 1944, in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Charles Sobhraj is a name that evokes intrigue, fear, and fascination. His life story reads like a gripping thriller—one that spans continents, eludes authorities, and leaves a trail of mystery and tragedy.

The Early Years:

• Sobhraj’s birthplace, a French colonial territory, made him eligible for French citizenship.
• Raised by his mother and her new husband, a French Army lieutenant stationed in” French Indochina“, Sobhraj moved between Southeast Asia and France.
• His teenage years saw the emergence of a criminal streak, with petty crimes leading to his first custodial sentence for burglary in 1963.

 

The Infamous Moniker: “The Serpent”

• Sobhraj’s criminal career escalated dramatically during the 1970s.
• He preyed on Western tourists traveling the hippie trail of South Asia.
• Nicknamed “The Serpent” for his snake-like ability to avoid detection, he allegedly murdered at least 20 tourists across South and Southeast Asia, including 14 in Thailand.

The Convictions and Imprisonment

• In 1976, Sobhraj was convicted and jailed in India.
• After his release, he returned to France.
• In 2003, he went to Nepal, where he was arrested, tried, and given a life sentence.

The Recent Twist

• On December 21, 2022, the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered his release due to his old age, after serving 19 years of his prison term.
• On December 23, he was released and deported to France

 

                                             What were Charles Sobhraj’s methods?

1. Poisoning:

   • Sobhraj used poison to incapacitate his victims. He would drug them, rendering them vulnerable and disoriented.
   • Once subdued, he subjected them to further torture and eventually killed them ¹.

2. Deceptive Disguises:

   • His ability to blend in and assume different identities allowed him to evade detection by authorities.
   • Sobhraj’s knack for deceptive disguises earned him the moniker “The Serpent” ².

3. Targeting Young Women:

   • Many of his victims were young Western tourists traveling on the hippie trail.
   • Sobhraj’s choice of attire for some victims led to his nickname “The Bikini Killer” ³.

4. Brutal and Calculated Murders:

   • His methods involved decapitation, burning bodies, and disposing of evidence.
   • Sobhraj’s extreme level of cruelty and cunning set him apart as a ruthless serial killer 

5. . Targeting Tourists

   • Many victims were young Western tourists traveling on the hippie trail.
   • His choice of attire for some victims earned him the nickname “The Bikini Killer.”

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