The True Story Behind Netflix’s Inspector Zende and the Notorious Bikini Killer

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For many years, Charles Sobhraj, known as “The Serpent” due to his talent for evading law enforcement, was one of the most notorious criminals in Asia. Born in 1944 in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), which was under French administration at the time, Sobhraj was initially apprehended in Paris in 1963 on charges of theft. Throughout the following years, he amassed a criminal record spanning various nations such as France, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. In multiple instances, he managed to break out of prisons in these countries.

Known by the nickname “Bikini Killer,” due to his preference for targeting women, Sobhraj drugged, robbed, and killed Western tourists who were traveling along the Hippie Trail in Asia during the 1970s. He was implicated in over 20 murders across India, Nepal, and Thailand between the 1970s and 1980s; however, he was only officially convicted of three. The exact number of his victims remains uncertain.

Netflix’s latest movie, titled “Inspector Zende“, tells the gripping tale of Charles Sobhraj’s relentless pursuit by Inspector Madhukar Zende, a famous Indian police officer. The story unfolds in the 1970s and 1980s and focuses on both instances where Sobhraj was apprehended by Zende. This movie offers a fresh perspective on the criminal character, following closely after Netflix’s debut of the series “The Serpent“, which featured Tahar Rahim as the infamous criminal. In this film, Charles Sobhraj is portrayed as Carl Bhojraj, also known as “the Swimsuit Killer”, played by Jim Sarbh. Meanwhile, Manoj Bajpayee assumes the role of the inspector who caught him twice.

Here’s what to know about the real story behind Inspector Zende, premiering Sept. 5.

Charles Sobhraj’s first arrest in India

In 1971, Madhukar Zende, working as a police officer at the Gamdevi police station in Mumbai, was given a heads-up by a criminal named Ajay Parekh about an upcoming heist. The heist was to be orchestrated by Charles Sobhraj and his gang, targeting the New India Assurance building, a location known for its frequent cash transactions within the city.

Zende and his team meticulously planned for the operation. They traced Sobhraj to the Taj Mahal Palace, where he appeared stylishly in a suit, unaware of any suspicion. However, Sobhraj wasn’t working alone; he had amassed about five associates for the robbery, who were stationed in neighboring hotels while he stayed at the Taj. During the raid, the police found hotel receipts linked to his accomplices, apprehended them, and confiscated guns and pistols meant for the robbery.

In the same year, during his stay in the hospital due to a suspected appendicitis, Sobhraj seized the opportunity presented by a power outage resulting from the Indo-Pakistani conflict to make his escape. He managed to slip out stealthily through the hospital’s drainage system.

Luxury behind bars and a new escape

In 1976, Sobhraj was apprehended once more in India, this time accused of murdering Jean-Luc Solomon, a male French tourist. He was imprisoned for twelve years at Tihar Jail in Delhi. While incarcerated, he earned notoriety for his lavish living conditions, which included bribing guards and cultivating a comfortable routine within the penitentiary.

In 1986, Sobhraj orchestrated a unique jail break by hosting a party inside the prison. He cleverly spiked the guards’ desserts with sleeping pills, making them unconscious. Seizing the opportunity of the ensuing confusion, he slipped out in a vehicle driven by a loyal accomplice, managing to evade capture. It is speculated that his decision to escape from his Indian imprisonment close to the end of his sentence was not just to elude authorities, but also to be apprehended anew in India, thereby avoiding extradition to Thailand where he could potentially face the death penalty.

The capture in Goa

In light of his past encounters with Sobhraj, Zende was tasked to head up the mission to apprehend him once more. With a compact unit by his side, he commenced tracking Sobhraj’s whereabouts in Goa, following two significant tips: firstly, a hotel proprietor from Mumbai who had been monitoring Sobhraj and spotted him using bicycles with license plates that didn’t correspond to the official records, shared this information with the authorities; secondly, local telecommunication centers suggested that the elusive fugitive might be frequenting the restaurant O’Coqueiro – a popular spot among foreign tourists who often utilized the establishment’s phones for international calls.

Undercover as a traveler, Zende spent several days surveilling the restaurant. On the evening of April 6, 1986, he noticed Sobhraj arriving, sporting a hat as part of his disguise. Zende then moved forward in a composed manner and greeted him, “Hi Charles, how are you?” However, Sobhraj tried to pull out a weapon, but Zende’s team promptly took control of the situation.

In Goa, the capture is widely viewed as the most crucial operation in Zende’s career, significantly boosting his standing as one of India’s top-tier law enforcement professionals.

Final imprisonment

Following his release from India in 1997, Sobhraj, who had served an additional decade in prison after being recaptured following his 1986 escape, returned to Paris. Believing he could avoid authorities once more, he ventured to Nepal in 2003. In Kathmandu’s tourist district, he was apprehended in 2004 and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1975 murder of American traveler Connie Jo Bronzich. A decade later, he was found guilty again for the murder of her companion, Canadian Laurent Carrière.

In the course of his long imprisonment in Nepal, spanning approximately two decades, starting in 2008, Sobhraj encountered lawyer Nihita Biswas and ultimately married her. It was not until 2022, at the age of 78, that he was freed from prison due to his advanced age and health problems. Given his history of heart conditions and the necessity for surgery, a Nepali law enabling bedridden inmates who have served three-quarters of their sentence to be released proved advantageous for him.

Where Sobhraj and Zende are today

Following his release from a Nepalese prison, Sobhraj resettled back in France, now enjoying freedom in his eighties. In Thailand, he still faces murder allegations and an active arrest warrant, yet thus far, he has not been handed over to address these claims.

Madhukar Zende, who is now 88 and has retired, continues to be highly respected within the Mumbai police force due to his historic achievements. He became well-known on a national scale after apprehending Sobhraj on two separate occasions. This recognition led him to meet influential figures such as Rajiv Gandhi, a former Indian prime minister who served from 1984 to 1989, and the beloved Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, who is highly revered in the Indian film industry.

In a recent appearance on “The Roaming Traveler Show,” conducted by Jayesh Gangan, Zende shared an extensive account of the apprehension of Charles Sobhraj. Renowned for his keen intellect and courageous investigative prowess, he delved not only into the manhunt that made him a household name but also the hidden hurdles of police work in the 1970s – such as the struggles of chasing an international criminal during an era devoid of advanced surveillance technology. He further emphasized the meticulous investigative approach, the dangers inherent in the operation, and the indelible memory of the day he ultimately arrested Sobhraj in Goa.

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2025-09-05 18:07