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Police in India have arrested a 69-year-old man for defrauding over 300 luxury hotels for over 36 years. The accused used to inflate the bills using advanced techniques, booking luxurious rooms, availing services at the hotel, and then walking out without paying them.

It was found that the man was specifically after the five-star and luxurious hotels in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Goa. He used several fake identities and forged paperwork to run the elaborate scheme over the years, police say.

The amount involved is estimated to be in crores of rupees. Over the years a number of hotel chains complained about people they didn't have to deal with, but it was that time he was arrested and the racket came to an end.

The case is an extraordinary one, especially as it reveals many serious loopholes in hotel booking and verification systems. Police forces are now working with other state police forces to find more victims and recover money. The man is being held in police custody, and more questioning is continuing.