In a dramatic bust, Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a man from Ghaziabad’s Kavi Nagar area for running a fake embassy out of a rented home. The accused, Harshvardhan Jain, was posing as an ambassador of fictional micronations such as Westarctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. According to ADG (Law & Order) Amitabh Yash, Jain had fabricated an entire diplomatic setup complete with official-looking seals, fake documents bearing the Ministry of External Affairs insignia, and even used diplomatic number plates on his personal vehicles. His residence was made to appear like a legitimate diplomatic mission, offering services including visa processing and brokering international work deals.

Jain’s elaborate scam extended far beyond simple impersonation. Authorities discovered morphed photographs of him with high-profile figures, including India’s Prime Minister and President, presumably to lend credibility to his claims. He had also been brokering deals through shell companies and was allegedly involved in a hawala network, according to initial investigations. Harshvardhan’s past criminal record includes a 2011 case involving illegal satellite phones, suggesting a long-standing pattern of fraudulent activity. His name has also surfaced in connection with notorious figures like Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khagoshi.

The Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) conducted a raid that resulted in the seizure of ₹44 lakh in cash, foreign currency from multiple countries, four cars with diplomatic plates, 18 forged number plates, 12 fake diplomatic passports, and 34 fabricated seals of various countries and institutions. Investigators also found forged PAN cards, press credentials, and company documents that were used to carry out the deception. A case has been registered at Kavi Nagar police station, and further legal proceedings are underway to uncover the full extent of the operation and any possible collaborators.