The Serpent: The real Charles Sobhraj is serving life in prison in Nepal (Image: GETTY) The Guardian reported Charles managed to escape from prison by drugging one of the prison guards and returned to France and kidnapped his own daughter from her maternal grandparents. He returned to Asia, with Usha and a plan to bust Chantal out of jail but instead, he was arrested and imprisoned in Tehran on suspicion of selling arms to the anti-Shah underground, reported GQ. When Chantal was released from prison in Kabul she won the custody of her daughter and they both fled to America, leaving Charles behind.