Who is the bikini killer in the latest Netflix series? Man who escaped from Tihar Jail

Charles Sobhraj, a name synonymous with charm and cunning, spent nearly two decades in a Nepalese prison for a series of murders that spanned Asia in the 1970s.

CHarles Sobhraj, a name synonymous with charm and cunning, spent nearly two decades in a Nepalese prison for a series of murders that spanned Asia in the 1970s. Known as The snake And The Bikini Killerhis life of crime, fueled by deception and manipulation, has become the stuff of legend and inspired books, films and even a Netflix series.

Sobhraj was born in French-occupied Saigon to an Indian businessman and a Vietnamese saleswoman. Sobhraj’s troubled childhood and rejection by his father are believed to have fueled his criminal tendencies. In the 1970s he traveled around Asia, targeting Western backpackers, particularly hippie tourists. His modus operandi was to drug and kill his victims, which earned him the nickname Bikini killer due to the clothing of some of the women he murdered.

The Tihar Prison Saga

Sobhraj’s exploits took him to India in 1976, where he used his charm to hook up with a group of French tourists. He pretended to be their guide and drugged them under the pretext of giving them medicine for dysentery. However, his plan went awry when the drugs worked too quickly and three tourists overpowered him, leading to his arrest.

Sobhraj was sentenced to 12 years in Delhi’s Tihar Jail and continued to plot. Knowing that following his conviction he would face extradition to Thailand – where he would likely face the death penalty – he organized a daring escape. On March 16, 1986, Sobhraj smuggled sedative-laced sweets for prison staff under the pretext of celebrating his birthday. As the guards fell unconscious, he calmly walked out of one of India’s most secure prisons.

Sobhraj’s escape made headlines around the world, with many speculating that he wanted to delay extradition until the Thai death sentence expired. However, his freedom was short-lived. The manhunt led by Inspector Madhukar Zende ended in Goa, where Sobhraj was casually dining at a popular hippie hangout. Zende, dressed as a tourist, approached him with a simple “Hello Charles, how are you?” and arrested him immediately.

A life of crime and shame

After his recapture, Sobhraj served another ten years in Tihar before being released in 1997. He returned to France and appeared to have retired from crime, but resurfaced in Nepal in 2003. There he was arrested for the murders of American Connie Jo Bronzich in 1975. Canadian Laurent Carrière was sentenced to life in prison.

While in Nepal, Sobhraj married a local woman, Nihita Biswas, who later rose to fame as a contestant Big Boss. His life behind bars continued to fascinate the public, and stories of his manipulative charm and brazen crimes fueled endless fascination.

Cultural heritage

Charles Sobhraj’s life has been immortalized in various media. His story has inspired three books including serpentine by Thomas Thompson and The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj by Richard Neville and Julie Clarke. Bollywood Main Aur Charles (2015) dramatized his escape from Tihar Jail, while the BBC miniseries The snakestreamed on Netflix, brought his story to a global audience.

Freedom and unanswered questions

In 2022, Nepalese authorities released Sobhraj, 78, citing health concerns. When he returns to France, he remains a free man whose legacy is full of mystery and controversy. While his exploits are deeply embedded in popular culture, the true extent of his crimes – and the lives forever changed – will remain a chilling testament to his dark ingenuity.

Also read: Watch Black Warrant: The Criminals and Crime in Tihar Jail on Netflix