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Bikini-killer Sobhraj ties the knot in Nepal
64-year-old Charles Gurmukh Sobhraj tied the nuptial knot with his 20-year-old Nepali fiancée Nihita Biswas after a tumultuous courtship marked by media glare and controversy, reports Anirban Roy.
Bikini-killer Charles Gurmukh Sobhraj on Thursday tied the knot with his 20-year-old Nepali fiancée Nihita Biswas after a tumultuous courtship marked by media glare and controversy.
“Yes, we got married as per Hindu tradition in the Central jail today,” Nihita told Hindustan Times, claiming that it was the happiest day of her life.
Also known as ‘The Serpent’, Sobhraj was arrested from a Kathmandu casino in 2003 and charged with the murder of of US citizen Connie Jo Bronzich and Canadian Laurent Ormond Carriere in 1975.
He denies the accusation and is fighting the life imprisonment, with the hearing coming up in Nepal’s Supreme Court on October 19.
Born to a Bengali father and Nepali mother, Nihita got introduced to 64-year-old Sobhraj in May this year when the bikini-killer was looking for a Nepali translator and interpreter for Sobhraj’s French lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre. Soon, both Nihita and Charles started liking each other, fell in love and decided to get married.
Despite criticism by the Nepali as well as the international media, Nihita and Charles had exchanged rings in the month of July and had vowed to get married soon after his release from the Kathmandu jail.
“It was a simple marriage ceremony within the jail premises,” Nihita, who aims to pursue a career in political journalism, said.
Nihita said she and Sobhraj found the day to be auspicious for the marriage. “Today is Vijaya Dashami, so we decided to tie the knot,” she said. However, the newly-wed couple could not plan their honeymoon as the groom is still behind the bars.
The marriage was solemnised in presence of Nihita’s mother and close relatives and the officials of the Central Jail. “He (Sobhraj) is very happy with the marriage,” the newly-wed bride said.
Nihita said soon after Sobhraj’s release from Kathmandu’s jail, they may have a marriage reception in presence of his relatives in India. Sobhraj’s two sisters are based in Pune.
Sobhraj and his lawyers are optimistic that the Supreme Court of Nepal would set him free. At present, in addition to the twin murder case, the bikini-killer is being tried for a fake-passport case.
After the marriage, the bikini-killer would now be more desperate for his release from the Kathmandu jail. He has always been claiming that the cases registered against him in Nepal were false and baseless.
Earlier, Sobhraj had threatened to start fast-unto-death if his release is delayed any further. It was earlier reported that the Supreme Court would announce the final hearing in Sobhraj’s twin murder case in December 2007.
But, the apex court opened a fake passport against him, which were earlier dismissed by lower courts.
