The Pune Serial Killers
Book Review By Prof Dr Shiv Sethi
In the vast and ever-growing landscape of true crime literature, The Pune Serial Killers by Sujata Sapre and Dr. Anandajit Goswami emerge as a rare and compelling work that not only documents a chilling chapter in India’s criminal history but also interrogates the very nature of evil. Focused on the infamous Joshi-Abhyankar murders of 1970s Poona, the book rescues from obscurity one of the country’s most under-documented serial killing sprees and presents it with a level of detail, narrative power, and intellectual depth seldom seen in Indian true crime writing.
At its core, the book reconstructs the horrifying crimes committed by a gang of four college students led by the disturbingly charismatic and psychopathic Rajendra Jakkal. What makes this account particularly unsettling is the methodical brutality with which the gang operated, targeting affluent households, eliminating entire families, and using strangulation as their signature method. Through meticulous research, verified documentation, and the use of real names, the authors establish this work as perhaps the most definitive account of the Joshi-Abhyankar case to date.
One of the book’s most striking strengths lies in its narrative style. Rather than adopting a detached, report-like tone, Sapre and Goswami employ narrative non-fiction to full effect. The storytelling is immersive and cinematic, opening with a tense wedding hall scene suffused with fear and suspicion. This approach immediately transports the reader into the socio-cultural atmosphere of 1976 Poona, blurring the line between reportage and thriller. The result is a book that reads with the urgency and engagement of fiction while retaining the credibility of journalistic inquiry.
However, the authors do not stop at recounting events. They delve deep into the psychological makeup of each gang member such as Rajendra Jakkal, Shantaram Jagtap, Dilip Sutar, and Munawar Shah, treating them not as a monolithic group but as individuals shaped by distinct personal histories and internal conflicts. Drawing on insights from psychiatrist Dr. Bhooshan Shukla and forensic consultant Alethea Vaz, the book applies frameworks such as narcissistic personality disorder, cult psychology, and hierarchical gang dynamics. This layered analysis transforms the narrative from mere crime documentation into a study of human pathology, offering readers a disturbing glimpse into how ordinary individuals can descend into extraordinary violence.
Another notable achievement of the book is its ability to situate the Joshi-Abhyankar case within a broader global and sociological context. By drawing parallels with notorious international figures like Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer, the authors effectively argue that the Pune killings were not an isolated anomaly but part of a larger pattern of human behavior. This comparative lens, supported by criminological research, enhances the book’s relevance and positions it within global true crime discourse.
Perhaps the most intellectually ambitious aspect of The Pune Serial Killers is its conceptual framework, the idea of a “metaverse of the criminal mind.” Through this lens, the authors argue that crime cannot be understood in isolation from its historical, economic, and societal context. The book paints a vivid picture of 1970s India: a nation grappling with post-Partition trauma, economic instability, drought, and political turbulence. In doing so, it suggests that the conditions of that era were instrumental in shaping the psyche of the perpetrators. This approach elevates the book beyond conventional true crime, transforming it into a nuanced exploration of how societal fractures can give rise to monstrosity.
Importantly, the book also raises unsettling questions about the nature of evil itself. By tracing the backgrounds of the perpetrators,marked by broken homes, financial struggles, and a desire for control, the authors challenge the simplistic notion that criminals are inherently “born evil.” Instead, they present a more disturbing possibility: that evil can be constructed, nurtured, and amplified by circumstance.
Published by Srishti Publishers and represented by The Book Bakers, The Pune Serial Killers stands as a significant contribution to Indian non-fiction. It is disturbing, thought-provoking, and deeply engaging as a book that lingers long after the final page is turned. For readers of true crime, psychology, or social history, this is not just a recounting of past horrors, but a sobering reflection on the forces that shape them.
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