The plot of the Netflix crime drama series takes inspiration from the life of the infamous serial killer, Charles Sobhraj, a fraudster and thief, who preyed on Western tourists throughout the hippie trail of South Asia, during the 1970s, as reported by BBC.

What true story is The Serpent based on?

Inspired by real events, The Serpent focuses on the pursuit of Charles Sobhraj and his girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc by Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg in the late 1970s.

Where is Charles Sobhraj now?

Sobhraj is currently imprisoned in Nepal. It is thought that Sobhraj murdered at least 20 tourists in South and Southeast Asia, including 14 in Thailand. He was convicted and jailed in India from 1976 to 1997. After his release, he retired, promoting his infamy in Paris.