A Crime That Haunts Goa

True crime documentaries are often tailored to shock and awe their audiences, but Dupatta Killer is different. Directed by Patrick Graham and produced by Samar Khan’s Juggernaut Productions, the film explores the chilling case of Mahanand Naik, one of Goa’s most notorious serial killers. He was accused of murdering sixteen women but only convicted for two. After spending fourteen years in prison, he may soon be released. The documentary doesn’t just focus on his crimes. It asks the difficult question of what happens when the justice system fails to protect the most vulnerable.

For Graham, the most disturbing part of the case was not just the murders, but the lives of the women before they became victims. He points out that many of them were single, not highly educated, and struggling to make a living. Society had overlooked them long before they disappeared. “They lived on the margins, which made them easy targets,” he told Rolling Stone India. “Mahanand made them believe they had a future with him, only to rob and kill them.” While their stories were forgotten and their disappearances barely noticed, the film brings their voices back to the forefront.

The film’s makers say that the possibility of Naik being released makes this case even more unsettling. “It is shocking that someone accused of such brutal crimes could be back in society,” says producer Samar Khan. “That should scare us. What does that say about justice?” He adds that the film is not just about what happened, but also about what could happen next.

Unlike many true crime documentaries that focus on glorifying violence for entertainment, Dupatta Killer is careful about how it tells the story. Khan explains that the goal was never to sensationalize the case. “True crime is engaging, yes, but we did not want to turn it into a spectacle,” he says. Graham adds that he wanted to approach the subject with restraint and respect. “We did not want to glorify Mahanand or make it about him. This is about the victims and the system that failed them.”

One of the most heartbreaking parts of the film is the story of a survivor who helped get Naik arrested. Despite her courage, the High Court later overturned her rape complaint. Graham found this particularly disturbing. “That verdict was a reflection of deep-rooted bias,” he says. “A middle-aged man deciding what justice should look like for a young woman.” Khan adds that this woman continues to live with fear every day. “She carries the heaviest burden. The victims who lost their lives, as tragic as it is, are at peace. But she has to live with the trauma, knowing her attacker might walk free. That fear never fades.”

For both Graham and Khan, making this documentary was emotionally exhausting. Reading case files, revisiting crime scenes, and speaking to survivors was a heavy burden to carry. Graham admits that the weight of the story often became overwhelming. “These were not just stories. These were real women, real lives destroyed,” he says. “There were nights I could not sleep. There were moments when I had to step away just to process it all.”

The film also highlights major flaws in the legal system. Many people assume serial killers are tried for all their crimes at once, but Graham explains that this is rarely the case. “Most people do not realize that cases like this are not tried together,” he says. “Mahanand was convicted in only two cases while being acquitted in others. That is a huge problem. There is no clear motive, investigations get delayed, and witnesses are often too afraid to come forward.”

Dupatta Killer is not just about a past crime. It is about the present and the future. Graham believes that the case shows how the legal system continues to fail survivors and victims’ families. “The fact that he keeps appealing, that survivors are forced to relive their trauma in court, that some families never got justice, it changes how you see the legal system,” he says. Khan questions how audiences engage with crime stories. “Are we just consuming crime stories, or are we actually learning from them?”

True crime documentaries have a history of making an impact. Making a Murderer, a 2015 Netflix series, led to calls for retrials in the U.S. legal system. The Keepers, a 2017 Netflix series, exposed abuse within the Catholic Church and renewed investigations. In India, Delhi Crime, a 2019 Netflix series, reignited conversations about women’s safety. One of the most shocking moments in true crime came from The Jinx, a 2015 HBO series, when Robert Durst, unaware of his mic, muttered, “Killed them all, of course.” That confession led to his conviction. These stories prove that documentaries can be more than just content; they can change how people see justice.

The global obsession with true crime is only growing. Since 2019, 52 documentaries have been released on major streaming platforms in India, with 40% belonging to the true crime genre. Meanwhile, a 2024 YouGov poll found that more women (61%) than men (52%) and adults under 65 (61%) than older adults (42%) are drawn to these stories. The top reasons include an interest in mysteries, the psychology behind crimes, and the forensic science involved.  

In an era where true crime is everywhere, Dupatta Killer, now streaming on Docubay does not let viewers move on to the next shocking case. It lingers. It forces people to ask the bigger question. Can justice ever truly be served?