Ghaziabad ‘micronation’ scam: Man sets up fake embassies of fictional nations, claims ties with ‘Seborga’, ‘West Arctica’ & ‘Lodonia’; luxury watches, diplomatic number plates, forged IDs seized | Delhi News
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has uncovered a fake embassy operating out of Ghaziabad and arrested a man who was posing as a diplomat from the fictitious country of “West Arctica,” a senior official confirmed on Wednesday.The accused, Harsh Vardhan Jain, a resident of Kavi Nagar in Ghaziabad, was taken into custody on Tuesday.According to the STF’s Noida unit, initial investigations reveal that Jain was allegedly acting as a broker, luring individuals and companies with false promises of overseas job placements. Authorities also suspect his involvement in a hawala racket run through shell companies.
To appear credible, Jain allegedly used digitally altered photos of himself with high-ranking dignitaries, including the prime minister and the president, to deceive people and gain their trust.Additional director general of police Amitabh Yash said the accused was operating the bogus embassy from a rented house in Ghaziabad, posing as a consul or ambassador of fictitious nations such as West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. He also used vehicles with fake diplomatic number plates to bolster his false identity.During interrogation, it emerged that the accused, Harsh Vardhan Jain, had past associations with controversial godman Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. He had previously been booked in 2011 in connection with the illegal possession of a satellite phone.Following his arrest on Tuesday, the Special Task Force seized four vehicles with fake diplomatic plates, 12 forged diplomatic passports from the so-called micronations, fake documents bearing the seal of the Ministry of External Affairs, two forged PAN cards, 34 rubber stamps of various countries and organizations, and two fake press cards.Additionally, officials recovered Rs 44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency, documents related to multiple shell companies, and 18 fake diplomatic license plates.An FIR has been registered at Kavi Nagar police station, and further investigation is underway, the agency said.(With agency inputs)
