Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 26, 2025

"Charles, I Know You": Cop Recalls Encounter With "Bikini Killer" Sobhraj 4 Decades Ago

"Charles, I Know You": Cop Recalls Encounter With "Bikini Killer" Sobhraj 4 Decades Ago

"On April 6 (1986), our team was at the hotel, where I saw Sobhraj walking inside..." retired Mumbai police officer Madhukar Zende recalls
Retired Mumbai Assistant Commissioner of Police Madhukar Zende, who had arrested serial killer Charles Sobhraj from Goa in 1986, on Thursday reacted cautiously to the news of his impending release from jail in Nepal, saying though he thinks dreaded criminals like Sobhraj should not come out of prison for life, what the criminal justice system thinks should also be taken into consideration.

Nepal's Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of Sobhraj (78), a Frenchman of Indian and Vietnamese parentage who has been in jail in the neighbouring country since 2003 on murder charges, on health and age grounds.

Zende, who as a Mumbai Crime Branch inspector had nabbed the notorious serial killer from a Goa hotel decades ago, told PTI in an interview that criminals like Sobhraj are dangerous for society and can commit more crimes if they come out of jail.

The septuagenarian had admitted killing 40 to 42 women and is a hardened criminal, who can do anything if he comes out, Zende said.

When nabbed from the Goa hotel, Sobhraj tried to dodge police by hiding his identity, but did not succeed, the retired police officer recalled.

"I think he should not come out of jail for life, he may commit more crimes, he is dangerous for society, but what matters is what the criminal justice system thinks," Zende said.

What the justice system thinks is more appropriate, he said, adding "judges are more learned than common people, it is their decision and it's wrong to comment on that".

Recalling the arrest of Sobhraj, Zende said when he escaped in a dramatic fashion from the top-security Tihar jail in New Delhi, it became an international news in 1986.

Sobhraj scripted his great escape from the Tihar jail in the middle of March in 1986 by offering drug-laced sweets to prison staff on the pretext of celebrating his birthday.

Though there were six jailers, three vehicles went inside the Tihar prison and 16 inmates, including the notorious French serial killer, escaped, he said, adding then nobody knew how he looked like.

"Next day, a newspaper in Mumbai published photos of Sobhraj. I had arrested him in 1971 in a robbery case so the newspaper published a story saying an inspector in the Mumbai Police knew Charles Sobhraj," he said.

Then Maharashtra DGP Suryakant Jog read the news report.

On March 29, 1986, the Railway Police arrested a man who had some connection with Sobhraj and this was conveyed to the then-DGP, he said.

The DGP immediately called Zende and a plan was chalked out to arrest the notorious criminal.

Accordingly, multiple police teams were formed and one of them under Zende was sent to Goa.

Initially, there were only two officers in the team and more joined later, he said, adding the squad went to various locations in the tourist state in search of the Sobhraj.

Zende was aware Sobhraj has an American wife and he may contact her over the phone.

"I went to the CTO (Central Telegraph Office) to check records of phone calls. While showing call register, an officer there gave information that there is a hotel named 'O Coqueiro' in Goa (in Porvorim), where foreigners get immediate international calls," he said.

Zende rushed to the hotel with his team.

During enquiry near a motorcycle taxi stand, a man provided information that a foreigner had been hiring a motorcycle and roaming in the state, the retired police officer said.

"On April 6 (1986), our team was at the hotel, where I saw Sobhraj walking inside. Immediately, I hid myself. Two officers were asked to stay outside the hotel, two stayed in the compound and two were with me. Without wasting time I pounced on him," Zende said, recalling those dramatic moments.

"Sobhraj tried to dodge us and said 'he didn't know who Charles was'. To which I replied, 'Charles I know you well, I had arrested you in 1971 and you can not forget me'," the former Mumbai cop said.

"He tried to reach out to his revolver, but we seized it immediately," he said.

Sobhraj was brought to Mumbai and placed under arrest, said Zende, adding later he was flown to New Delhi in a Border Security Force (BSF) aircraft.

In 1971, a Mumbai police team had arrested him in a robbery case, he said.

Sobhraj had committed a robbery at Ashoka Hotel in Delhi and later came to Mumbai to commit a similar crime at the Air India cash counter, the retired police officer said.

He was arrested along with his five others and arms and ammunition were recovered from him, said Zende.

Later on, Sobhraj was nicknamed the 'Bikini Killer' as he had killed at least 20 female tourists in South and Southeast Asia. He was convicted in some of the cases and was in prison from 1976 to 1997.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
×