Top 3 Serial Killer Cases Dealt with by Crimeophobia: From Male & Female Honey Trap Killers to the Unknown & Unsolved Killing Files

“From Honey Trap Murders by Both Females and Males to Unsolved Serial Killings by the Unknown—The Crimeophobia Team Brings Criminological Scrutiny to the Shadows.” ~ Criminologist Snehil Dhall

By Special Crime Desk | India | Crime & Investigation

Mumbai, India — In the murky world of serial killings, the Crimeophobia Team, under the leadership of Criminologist Snehil Dhall, has cracked open some of the darkest criminal networks operating in India today. These chilling cases highlight not just the barbarity of the killers but also the systemic failures that allowed them to remain undetected for years. Here’s an in-depth look into three of the most notorious serial killer cases handled by the team.

1. The Honey Trap Female Serial Killer Gang: Seduction, Extortion & Murder

One of the most spine-chilling cases involved a female-led serial killer gang operating under the guise of glamour and seduction. The gang, fronted by a model and aspiring actress, used the art of the “honey trap” to lure high-net-worth individuals—including entrepreneurs, professionals, and members of the film industry—into romantic entanglements with fatal consequences. The modus operandi involved seducing wealthy men, promising them marriage after financing a ‘music video project,’ and then trapping them in extortion schemes. In more sinister cases, those who didn’t comply disappeared—later found dead or never seen again.

A client of Crimeophobia narrowly escaped this fate. Suspicious of his bride-to-be’s background, he turned to Criminologist Snehil Dhall and his team for a background verification. Through strategic criminal mind games and on-ground surveillance, the team uncovered a web of lies and a trail of blood. The client was saved just in time—months later, the same woman was arrested as part of a serial killer gang implicated in four confirmed murders in which they first honey-trapped, extorted, and chopped the victims into pieces. Crimeophobia’s internal intelligence, however, estimates the true toll could exceed 12 victims, many still untraced. Honey traps have usually been the easiest tactic of intelligence-based extortion for leaking and blackmailing in the corporate and defence sectors, in which detecting the indications of a trap has always been a major concern to date.

2. Honey Trap Male Serial Killer, popularly known as The Dupatta Killer

A disturbing twist on the concept of love and deception came in the form of the so-called Dupatta Killer, a man who murdered women using pieces of feminine clothing—most often a dupatta (scarf)—after luring them with false marriage promises. The killer operated in and around Goa, where he would charm women into believing he was ready to settle down before brutally strangling them. Between 1994 and 2009, he was accused of the brutal murders of 16 women. His modus operandi was horrifyingly consistent: he would lure his victims—often vulnerable women from impoverished backgrounds—under the false pretext of marriage. After gaining their trust, he would typically take them to isolated spots, strangle them with their own dupattas (scarves), and then rob them of their valuables, particularly jewellery.

His victims, ranging from tailors to housemaids, were primarily targeted for their ornaments, which he would then sell. His reign of terror went largely unchecked for many years, partly due to the victims’ socio-economic status, which sometimes resulted in delayed or less thorough investigations. It wasn’t until his arrest in April 2009 that the full extent of his alleged crimes began to surface. Despite accusations of 16 murders, he was ultimately convicted in two murder cases, receiving life imprisonment. He was acquitted in many other cases due to insufficient evidence. In recent times, Mahanand Naik’s name has resurfaced in public discourse as he has moved the High Court challenging the denial of his premature release from prison. After serving over 15 years, the possibility of his early release for good behavior has sparked intense debate about the nature of justice, rehabilitation for serial killers, and the enduring trauma faced by the victims’ families and the community. The “Dupatta Killer” remains a grim reminder of a chilling chapter in Goa’s history.

The case caught international attention and was later adapted into a crime documentary by a British filmmaker, who sought Criminologist Snehil Dhall’s expert insights to profile the killer’s psychopathy. Dhall’s in-depth forensic psychology analysis was instrumental in building the public and legal understanding of the criminal’s mindset. The documentary was recently released, in which—right from the Police Investigating Officer to the Serial Killer and victim families—all were given a few minutes of screen time along with Criminologist Snehil Dhall.

3. The Villa unsolved Serial Killings: Murder Disguised as Accidents

The ongoing Villa case is arguably one of the most complex serial killer investigations currently underway. A lavish villa complex in the middle of Mumbai has become the epicenter of a series of suspicious deaths—each officially declared as an “accident.” According to official records, nine individuals have died in the villa, ranging from the poorest to the richest financial backgrounds, including family members of a Mumbai Police officer.

• Seven migrant labourers were found dead under suspicious circumstances during a construction project.
• The son of a senior Mumbai Police officer (Economic Offences Wing) was mysteriously found dead in a nearby lake after allegedly being dragged.
• A billionaire builder’s elder son, whose death was dismissed as a heart attack, while allegations were made against his own family for murder.

Sources allege that the area has become a hotbed of illegal activities, including human trafficking, arms smuggling, drug abuse, and money laundering, often masked under rave parties hosted by high-profile individuals. While initial FIRs were filed separately, an attempt was made to invoke MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) for the 7-labourer case—an effort that was later mysteriously revoked. Despite multiple red flags and requests for further investigation, most cases were downgraded to accidental deaths by the local police, prompting Crimeophobia to independently investigate the patterns and connections among the victims. The Crimeophobia Team rejected the theory that every death in the villa was accidental, stating that the patterns are too strong to ignore. The billionaire had also filed multiple complaints in reference to these villas, but eventually, he himself was thrown out of his own founding company. Apparently, the CBI had also raided the builder, during which the deceased had gone absconding. Now, the billionaire’s younger son has taken his position in the company.

The Rise of Criminal Psychology in Crime Solving

These cases have highlighted a pivotal change in crime detection—from forensic labs to forensic minds. Crimeophobia’s integration of criminal psychology, behavioral profiling, and real-time intelligence gathering has not only solved high-profile serial murders but has also questioned the competency of traditional investigation systems that often overlook patterns of organized serial crime. “The justice system must evolve. These are not random murders—they’re premeditated patterns of organised serial crime that demand a transnational, transdisciplinary approach,” added Dhall. With more such cases being revisited by the Crimeophobia Team, it’s evident that India’s serial killers are no longer hiding in the shadows—they are embedded within society, masked behind parties, proposals, and powerful networks. And in such a world, criminology may just be the last line of defence.