A 69-year-old man from Tamil Nadu has been arrested for allegedly defrauding more than 300 luxury hotels across India over the past three decades by using fake identities and leaving without settling his bills, police said.
The accused, identified as Bingson John, allegedly posed as a foreign tourist guide, English teacher or yoga instructor to gain the trust of hotel staff and check into five-star properties. According to investigators, he stayed for several days, used hotel facilities and then disappeared without making payment. In some cases, he is also accused of stealing valuable items from the hotels.
His latest alleged offence took place at a luxury hotel in Raipur, where police said he stayed for two days before leaving without paying a bill of ₹63,755. Investigators also alleged that he took a laptop worth around ₹1.48 lakh from the hotel.
Following a complaint, the Raipur Police’s Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit, along with the Telibandha police, launched an investigation. By analysing mobile phone records, documents and other technical evidence, officers traced the suspect to Bhubaneswar in Odisha and arrested him within 72 hours. The stolen laptop was also recovered.
During questioning, police said John claimed to have used the same method to cheat more than 300 luxury hotels since 1990.
This is not the first time he has faced similar allegations. In 2022, he was arrested near Kollam Railway Station in Kerala after a luxury hotel in Thiruvananthapuram accused him of leaving without paying his bill and allegedly stealing a laptop. Police had then said he gained the confidence of hotel staff, who did not ask for an advance payment.
Investigators said John studied in an English-medium school and worked as a tourist guide in Delhi during the 1980s. He allegedly told police that he began targeting luxury hotels after being insulted by staff at one such property years ago.
Police records indicate that he was first arrested in 1996 and has since spent nearly 15 years in prisons across several states, including Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
During interrogation, investigators said the accused claimed he had been influenced by the deceptive methods of notorious serial killer and conman Charles Sobhraj while lodged in Tihar Jail. Police allege he later adopted fake identities and similar tactics to carry out hotel frauds across the country.
Raipur Police are now verifying his criminal history and gathering information on cases registered against him in multiple states. The accused has been produced before a court, and further investigation is underway.
