The 1990s: The Cyanide Mohan Murders

The 1990s in India saw a wave of economic liberalization, rapid urbanization, and shifting societal norms. However, beneath the surface of progress, some individuals exploited vulnerabilities in the most chilling ways. Among them was Mohan Kumar, later dubbed "Cyanide Mohan," whose calculated and cold-blooded crimes would make him one of India’s most notorious serial killers.

Unlike other violent criminals, Mohan did not rely on brute force. Instead, he used deception, trust, and a deadly chemical weapon,cyanide. His targets were young women from lower-middle-class backgrounds, often desperate for love and security in a rapidly changing society. Mohan posed as a charming suitor, preying on these women under the guise of marriage. He would gain their trust, promise them a future together, and convince them to elope.

Once the unsuspecting victims agreed, he would take them to a secluded location, usually a lodge or a remote area,under the pretense of beginning a new life. He would hand them a "contraceptive pill" to ensure there were no complications before their supposed marriage. What the victims didn’t know was that the pill was laced with cyanide, a lethal poison that kills almost instantly.Within moments of ingestion, the women would collapse, gasping for breath as the poison shut down their bodies. Mohan, showing no remorse or hesitation, would calmly collect their jewelry, cash, and valuables before fleeing the scene. The bodies were later discovered, often by lodge staff or passersby, but by then, Mohan was long gone, vanishing into the shadows to seek out his next victim.

For over a decade, Mohan continued this cycle of deception and murder, leaving a trail of broken families and unanswered questions. It was only in 2009 that he was finally caught, when a pattern in the murders led police to investigate lodging records and phone records that ultimately connected him to multiple deaths. The sheer number of victims, estimated to be over 20 women, shocked the nation.During his trial, Mohan showed no remorse, displaying an unsettling detachment from the horror he had inflicted. The court found him guilty of multiple murders, and in 2013, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The case of Cyanide Mohan remains one of India’s most chilling examples of premeditated serial killings, highlighting the dark side of human psychology. His crimes were not just about murder, they were about manipulation, trust, and the ease with which a predator can exploit the vulnerable. Even today, his name evokes a sense of dread, a reminder that sometimes, the deadliest killers are the ones who charm their way into their victims’ lives.