Police have arrested 69-year-old Bingson John, who is alleged to have targeted more than 300 luxury hotels across India over nearly 36 years, from Bhubaneswar in Odisha. According to investigators, the Tamil Nadu resident allegedly checked into premium hotels across multiple states using fake identities, left without paying his bills and, in several cases, walked away with hotel property. Police are now examining his links to similar cases registered in different parts of the country.
According to police, the latest case is related to a five-star hotel in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Investigators allege that the accused checked into the hotel on June 25, 2026, used its accommodation, dining, spa and other premium facilities for two days, and left on the morning of June 27 without paying a bill of ₹63,755. Police further alleged that he also took away a laptop worth approximately ₹1.48 lakh that had been provided by the hotel. The laptop was later recovered from his possession.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused frequently changed his identity and introduced himself as a foreign tour guide, an English teacher or a yoga instructor while travelling across different cities. Police said these identities enabled him to gain the confidence of hotel staff quickly. He allegedly checked into luxury properties, enjoyed high-end services and then disappeared without settling the bills. In some cases, he is also accused of stealing hotel property before leaving.
Investigators claim that criminal cases involving alleged cheating and related offences have been registered against the accused in more than 10 states. According to police, he has also spent over 15 years in various prisons in connection with earlier cases. Authorities are now conducting a detailed verification of his criminal history to determine whether multiple cases across the country are linked to the same modus operandi.
Following the complaint registered in Raipur, the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit analysed technical evidence, mobile phone records and documents to trace the accused. With assistance from Odisha Police, he was eventually apprehended in Bhubaneswar. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway.
Investigators are also examining whether the accused used multiple aliases and forged documents over the years to commit similar offences across different states. Police are analysing hotel records, travel history, digital evidence and other documents to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud and identify any additional victims or linked cases.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that robust identity verification and digital record management have become increasingly important in the hospitality sector. He advised hotels to adopt multi-layered verification procedures rather than relying solely on identity documents presented at check-in. He also recommended that suspicious behaviour or unusual guest activity should be reported promptly to local law enforcement. According to him, modern digital forensic techniques are playing a significant role in tracing offenders who have managed to evade arrest for long periods.
Police said the accused remains under interrogation and investigators are continuing to examine his possible links with similar cases registered across the country. Authorities believe that further questioning and forensic analysis may reveal the full scale of the alleged fraud and identify additional victims and criminal connections.
