Daijiworld Media Network – Raipur

Raipur, Jul 3: Taking a page straight out of a crime thriller, a 69-year-old serial conman who drew inspiration from the infamous Charles Sobhraj has finally landed in the police net. The Raipur police have successfully arrested the elderly fraudster from Tamil Nadu, ending his 36-year run of duping over 300 luxury hotels across the country.

The accused has been identified as Bingson John. During police interrogation, he confessed to mimicking the deceptive style of the notorious serial killer Sobhraj to execute his elaborate hotel heists.

His arrest followed a complaint filed by the management of the luxury Hyatt hotel in Raipur. John had checked into the hotel on June 25 and smoothly vanished on the morning of June 27 without informing anyone. He not only left behind an unpaid bill of Rs 63,755 but also absconded with a laptop worth Rs 1.48 lac that he had borrowed from the hotel staff.

Acting on the complaint, the cyber cell police launched an investigation, tracked his mobile network, and finally apprehended him in Bhubaneswar. The stolen laptop was also recovered from his possession.

Mastering the art of deception, John would often pose as a foreign tourist guide, an English teacher, or a yoga instructor to win the trust of the hotel staff. Once their guard was down, he would disappear overnight without settling his dues.

His criminal spree began in 1990. Over the past three decades, he successfully conned more than 300 hotels in metro cities across over 10 states. Police revealed that he has already spent over 15 years in various prisons, including Tihar jail, where he allegedly built connections with hardcore criminals. Operating under multiple aliases, the notorious elderly conman is now facing further investigation.