RAIPUR: Raipur Police arrested a 69-year-old interstate conman, Bingson John, from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, for allegedly cheating more than 300 luxury hotels across the country since 1990. The accused, a resident of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, was arrested in a joint operation by the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit and Telibandha Police. Police recovered a stolen laptop from his possession.
The arrest followed a complaint by Suraj Singh, Security Chief of Hotel Hyatt in Telibandha. John checked into the hotel on June 25, 2026, and fled on June 27, 2026, at 7:44 am without paying an outstanding bill of ₹63,755. He also allegedly stole a laptop worth ₹1.48 lakh that had been provided to him by the hotel on a special request.
When the hotel management attempted to contact him, both mobile numbers were switched off. Telibandha Police registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Cyber) Smritik Rajnala and Deputy Commissioner (Central Zone) Umesh Prasad Gupta directed officers to trace the accused immediately.
A technical analysis of the documents and phone numbers submitted by the accused led investigators to Bhubaneswar. A police team reached Odisha and arrested John within 72 hours of the incident.
During interrogation, John allegedly confessed to targeting over 300 luxury hotels across more than 10 states and metropolitan cities. Police said he had spent nearly 15 years in different prisons across India and first entered Tihar Jail in 1996, where he came into contact with several notorious criminals and drew inspiration from Charles Sobhraj.
According to police, John posed as a foreign travel guide, English teacher, or yoga teacher to gain entry into premium hotels. He would stay at these properties, use hotel services, steal electronic equipment, and leave without paying the bills. Investigators said he had alternated between prisons and luxury hotels since 1990, allegedly targeting a new five-star hotel after every release from jail.
