A 69-year-old man from Tamil Nadu was arrested for allegedly cheating more than 300 luxury hotels nationwide during the last 36 years. Raipur police said the suspect told investigators he took cues from serial offender Charles Sobhraj and used comparable tactics. Bingson John was taken into custody in Bhubaneswar after a five-star property in Raipur filed a complaint.
Police reported that John posed as a foreign tour guide, English instructor or yoga trainer to win staff trust. He would stay at upscale hotels, use their services and depart without payment, sometimes taking items belonging to the establishments.
The most recent complaint came from the Hyatt hotel in Raipur. John checked in on June 25 and left two days later without finishing checkout. He reportedly owed 63,755 rupees and removed a laptop valued at 1.48 lakh rupees. After failed contact attempts, management alerted authorities. Telibandha police registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit joined the probe.
Technical checks on documents and phone numbers led officers to Bhubaneswar, where John was detained. During questioning he admitted targeting hotels since 1990 and said cases against him exist in more than ten states. Investigators noted he had served over 15 years in various jails, including Tihar. The missing laptop was recovered from his possession and further inquiries continue.
