The Trial

During the 1976 trial in New Delhi, Sobhraj was chiefly represented by criminal lawyer VK Ohri, who had seen him through previous court cases. However, Sobhraj also rather imperiously hired and fired lawyers and eventually brought in his recently paroled brother, André, to help.

He went on a hunger strike but to no avail. Sobhraj was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. He was spared India’s death penalty, even although the prosecution fought for it and some sources believed Sobhraj bribed court officials to avoid it. He was sentenced a further five years on other criminal charges, making a total of twelve years imprisonment.