The Bizarre Tale of Harshvardhan Jain and His Fake Embassy in Ghaziabad

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Ghaziabad: In a startling revelation that sounds like a plot from a Hollywood thriller, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) uncovered a fake embassy operating out of a luxurious bungalow in Ghaziabad’s Kavi Nagar on July 22, 2025. The mastermind behind this audacious scam was Harshvardhan Jain, a 47-year-old man who posed as a diplomat representing fictional and unrecognized micronations such as Westarctica, Seborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. This elaborate con, which ran for nearly seven years, has left authorities and residents stunned, exposing a web of deception involving forged documents, luxury cars, and a carefully crafted facade of diplomatic legitimacy.

Harshvardhan Jain, a man with an ostensibly impressive background, claimed to have earned an MBA from the “College of Applied Science” in London and another from ITS College in Ghaziabad. His family background added to his veneer of credibility—his father was once a prominent industrialist with marble mines in Rajasthan. Jain leveraged this profile to portray himself as a high-flying diplomat, complete with a fleet of luxury vehicles, including an Audi and a Mercedes, adorned with fake diplomatic number plates marked “DC” (Diplomatic Corps). His rented two-storey bungalow in Kavi Nagar, labeled the “Consulate-General of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica,” flew flags of India and Westarctica, a micronation in Antarctica unrecognized by any sovereign state. The setup was so convincing that it fooled many, with Jain hosting charity events and community feasts (bhandaras) to maintain his public image.

The problem with Jain’s “embassy” was its sheer illegality. Westarctica, Seborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia are either micronations—self-proclaimed entities with no legal recognition—or entirely fictional. Operating an embassy without authorization from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) violates national sovereignty and international diplomatic norms. Jain’s operation was a sophisticated scam designed to exploit unsuspecting job seekers and businesses. He promised lucrative overseas job placements and international business deals, using forged diplomatic passports, fake MEA seals, and morphed photographs with high-profile figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President APJ Abdul Kalam to bolster his credibility. The STF raid uncovered a trove of incriminating evidence: Rs 44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency, 12 forged diplomatic passports, 34 stamps of various countries and shell companies, 18 fake diplomatic number plates, two forged PAN cards, and fake press credentials.

Jain’s modus operandi was to create an aura of legitimacy around his fictitious diplomatic status. He used his “embassy” to issue fake diplomatic IDs and Seborga passports, charging hefty fees to victims lured by promises of foreign jobs or investments. Authorities suspect he was also involved in a hawala racket, funneling money through shell companies. His high-profile lifestyle, complete with diplomatic suits and luxury cars, made his claims believable to many. The Westarctica Instagram account even promoted Jain’s “consulate” as a legitimate operation since 2017, adding to the deception.

This wasn’t Jain’s first brush with the law. In 2011, he was booked for possessing an illegal satellite phone, a case still on record at Kavi Nagar police station. His alleged connections to controversial figures like self-styled godman Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi hint at a shady past, raising questions about the extent of his network. The STF is now investigating potential collaborators and the number of victims ensnared by Jain’s scheme.

The Ghaziabad fake embassy case underscores the audacity of white-collar crime and the vulnerabilities in public trust that scammers exploit. Jain’s ability to operate undetected for years highlights gaps in oversight, particularly in a digital age where micronations can gain superficial legitimacy online. As the investigation continues, authorities aim to unravel the full scope of this diplomatic fraud, ensuring that justice is served for those deceived by the self-styled “Baron” of Westarctica.

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