Bingson John, a 69-year-old conman who reportedly described jail as his home and luxury hotels as his tourist destinations, has been arrested after allegedly cheating more than 300 premium hotels across India over the past 36 years.

Police say he stayed in expensive hotels using fake identities, enjoyed luxury services, and left without paying.

In several cases, he also stole hotel property before escaping. He was finally arrested in Bhubaneswar after a complaint from a five-star hotel in Raipur.

Investigators said John posed as a foreign tour guide, English teacher, yoga instructor, and other professionals to gain the confidence of hotel staff.

During interrogation, he admitted that he had copied the deceptive methods of the notorious criminal Charles Sobhraj. Police tracked him through technical evidence and mobile records before making the arrest.

Police believe John has been carrying out similar frauds since 1990, with criminal cases registered against him in more than 10 states.

They have recovered stolen property linked to the latest case and are continuing the investigation to identify more victims and uncover the full extent of his long-running hotel scam.