Unofficial emissary peddled diplomatic rankings for sums ranging from 50 lakh rupees to 2 crore rupees, alleges law enforcement
Fake Embassy Operator Arrested in Ghaziabad
In a significant development, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP-STF) has arrested Harsha Vardhan Jain for operating a fake embassy from his home in Ghaziabad. The arrest came on July 22, following an investigation into a complex scam that spanned several years.
Jain first came into contact with controversial godman Chandraswami in London around 2000, who introduced him to Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and Syed Ehsan Ali, a former Hyderabad resident who later acquired Turkish nationality.
During raids conducted following Jain's arrest, authorities seized over a dozen bags of fake diplomatic kits from his residence. These kits contained forged diplomatic plates, flags, visiting cards, and other paraphernalia used to dupe individuals into believing they were being appointed as envoys of unrecognized micronations. The micronations involved in this case include Westarctica, Seborga, Lodonia, and the fictitious country of Paulovia.
Investigators believe that Jain charged individuals anywhere between ₹50 lakh and ₹2 crore to appoint them as envoys. The elaborate nature of the fake embassy spanned several years, including organized events to maintain the illusion of legitimacy. The scam has a reported value of nearly Rs 300 crore and included a fleet of four luxury cars with fake diplomatic plates and numerous forged documents.
The seized material also revealed that Jain had developed entire "diplomatic kits" that included forged passports and registration plates designed to mimic diplomatic credentials. Jain's residence was decorated to resemble a legitimate diplomatic mission, complete with national flags and diplomatic insignia.
Two of Jain's relatives are under investigation for allegedly moving evidence after his arrest. They reportedly removed documents on July 24, and based on information obtained during Jain's custody, police raided a relative's house in Rohini on July 30 and a rented shop in Jahangirpuri on July 31, recovering more forged documents and fake diplomatic kits. This indicates an attempt by his family members to conceal or relocate incriminating materials related to the fake embassy racket.
Following Jain's arrest, Westarctica issued a statement distancing itself from him, indefinitely suspending him as a representative of their organisation. The focus now will be on identifying those who bought into Jain's micronation fantasy and on uncovering whether any of them used their fake diplomatic cover for illegal or subversive activities.
Investigators are also looking into the possibility of money-laundering, and it is believed that Jain appointed at least 20 to 25 such individuals as envoys of these unrecognised "nations." During raids, police seized ₹44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency valued at ₹30 lakh, four luxury vehicles, 20 fake diplomatic plates, 12 fake passports, 34 stamps of different countries, two PAN cards, 12 luxury watches, a laptop, and multiple mobile phones from Jain's residence.
- Despite the chaos surrounding a fake embassy scam in India, the world of sports and general news continues unabated, with elections, politics, and crime-and-justice matters dominating headlines elsewhere.
- The arrest of Harsha Vardhan Jain, a former resident of the sports-loving city of Ghaziabad, has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community, sparking concerns about the potential misuse of diplomatic paraphernalia and the legitimacy of unrecognized micronations like Westarctica, Seborga, Lodonia, and the fictitious country of Paulovia.
- As the Indian authorities continue their investigation into the complex scam operated by Jain, it remains to be seen if hisFake Embassy had any connections to the illicit activities often associated with the world of crime-and-justice, or if it was merely a case of misguided ambition and deceit.
