Charles Sobhraj ties the knot with Nihita Biswas

Once known as the Serpent and Bikini Killer, Charles Sobhraj acquired a new moniker on Wednesday: newly-wed, tying the knot Nepali-style with his 20-year-old Nepali fiancée Nihita Biswas. 
 
On Wednesday, Nepal celebrated Bada Dashami, the 10th day of its biggest Hindu festival Dashain, traditionally regarded as an auspicious day for weddings. While pairs headed for temples to say “I do”, for 64-year-old Sobhraj, it was a more sombre ceremony in Kathmandu’s Central Jail where he has been serving a life sentence for murder. 
 
The bride wore a pink T-shirt and trousers while Sobhraj kept his trademark cap as they exchanged vows and tikas, the red vermilion mark. He was allowed to come out of his cell and in the presence of curious prison guards and other inmates, the short ceremony was conducted to make them husband and wife. 
 
The "marriage" comes after their engagement in July following Nihita's visit to the prison to offer to interpret for Sobhraj's visiting French lawyer, a visit whic both say resulted in love at first sight. 
 
However, like the whirlwind romance that was marked by controversy, the wedding is also going to be controversial. There was no priest though the bride’s brother and mother Shakuntala Thapa turned up to show their support. Thapa, a leading lawyer, is also fighting Sobhraj’s case in Supreme Court, challenging a lower court decision that declared him guilty of the murder of an American backpacker, Connie Jo Bronzich, in 1975. 
 
Sobhraj’s appeal will be heard on October 19, after Nepal’s courts reopen after the long holiday break. If he is set free by the apex court, as Nihita claims it will, the couple plan to proceed to France and get married in accordance with French laws. 
 
The wedding is Sobhraj’s second one, though in between he had several girlfriends and a common law wife of Chinese origin with whom he has a daughter. The newly weds have decided that the daughter, now six, will live with them. 
 
Sobhraj’s only recorded and official wedding was to a French woman who divorced him during his imprisonment in India and later married an American. 
 
If the apex court rejects Sobhraj’s appeal, the couple has decided that Nihita will go to the International Court of Justice to fight for his release. Sobhraj claims he was framed by police and not given a fair trial.