The Serpent: Why Did Charles Sobhraj Return to Nepal After 6 Years as a Free Man? 8 Shares Netflix's The Serpent tells the story of elusive serial killer Charles Sobhraj, who is believed to have killed between 12 and 24 people across Nepal, Thailand, and India in the 1970s. Sobhraj posed as a gem dealer in Bangkok and frequently convinced strangers to join his circle and assist him in his crimes. In 1976, he and one of his most infamous accomplices, Marie-Andrée Leclerc, were arrested in India after a group of French students caught on to the fact that Sobhraj and Leclerc had drugged them. After 20 years in prison, Sobhraj was released and allowed to live life as a free man in France. There he hired a publicity agent to schedule interviews and photo sessions in an attempt to glorify his crimes.