1944: BORN IN ASIA
Sobhraj is born in Saigon on Apr 6, 1944, to an Indian father and a Vietnamese mother who later remarries a Frenchman.
In 1963, he embarks on a life as an international crook, which will take him to Greece, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In 1970, he moves to India, where he is arrested a year later for a jewellery heist. He flees while out on bail and goes to Greece, where he also manages to escape after being arrested.
1975: “BIKINI KILLER”
He arrives in Bangkok in 1975 with his Canadian girlfriend and an Indian associate.
He hangs out with tourists, passing himself off as a trader in precious stones.
In October, the body of a young woman is found on a Thai beach in Pattaya, wearing a bikini. Other victims follow, beaten, strangled or burned to death.
Sobhraj, who will become known as the “bikini killer” allegedly uses his victims’ passports for mysterious trips linked to trade in precious stones and drugs.
Under a cloud of suspicion, he flees to India.
1976: ARRESTED IN INDIA
In July 1976, he is arrested in India after trying to drug a group of more than 20 French tourists in a New Delhi hotel.
He is also accused of the murder of another French tourist, Luc Salomon, who had been poisoned in a Mumbai hotel.
In May 1982, he is handed a life sentence by an Indian court for the 1976 murder of Israeli tourist Alan Jacob, but is acquitted on appeal a year later for lack of evidence.
He remains in prison for his other crimes.
1980: THAILAND DEMANDS EXTRADITION
In late 1985, India agrees to Thailand’s request to extradite Sobhraj for the murders of a Turkish tourist and a young American woman, Teresa Knowlton.
He risks the death penalty there.
He then escapes from jail in New Delhi in March 1986 by feeding drug-laced sweets to his guards.
He is recaptured three weeks later in a Goa restaurant.
