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India Today
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- India Today
Jain & the art of diplomatic immunity
The Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) has just pulled the curtain on a plot so audacious it could make Sukesh Chandrashekhar man who invented multiple micro nations and appointed Shri Harsh Vardhan Jain as the ambassador or consul-general has been arrested from the Westarctica Embassy compound in Ghaziabad's ambassador of Ladonia and the Consul-General of Saborga had diplomatic number plates, passports, but, as it turned out, no diplomatic immunity. When the man identified himself as Harsh Vardhan Jain, it became clear that Gangadhar hi Shaktiman Meet Harsh Vardhan Jain, the man who turned a rented house into a diplomatic Disneyland for fictional nations like Westarctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Ladonia, countries so obscure even Google Maps would shrug and say, "Bhai, yeh kahan hai?"It was a Tuesday, July 22, when the Noida unit of the UP STF, acting on a tip-off from central agencies, swooped in like a hawk on a particularly delusional pigeon. They found Jain, the mastermind of this micronation madness, strutting about as the "Ambassador" of these make-believe had four luxury cars decked out with fake diplomatic plates, because nothing screams "I'm legit" like a second-hand Merc with a dodgy licence plate. Add to that a haul of 12 "diplomatic passports" for his fantasy nations, forged documents stamped with the seal of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), two fake PAN cards, 34 rubber stamps of various countries and companies, and two counterfeit press also had Rs 44.7 lakh in cash just so minor inconveniences came knocking. A stash of foreign currency that could fund a small coup in Poulvia, if it were a real a Ghaziabad resident with a rap sheet that includes a 2011 case for possessing an illegal satellite phone, had a knack for playing dress-up. He allegedly morphed photos of himself with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, and other global bigwigs to convince gullible folks he was a diplomatic heavyweight."Look, here I am with Modi ji, shaking hands like we're planning a G20 summit in Mordor Midlands!" you can almost hear him say. He targeted dreamers desperate for jobs abroad and companies chasing overseas deals. Jain promised them visas to the countries he had invented. STF suspects he ran a suspected hawala racket through shell companies to keep the cash let's look at some of his "micronations". Westarctica? Sounds like a rejected Marvel villain hideout. Saborga, Poulvia, Ladonia? They're not even on the dark web's travel itinerary. A micronation, for the uninitiated, is a self-declared "country" that no government or international body recognises. They are like a WhatsApp group declaring itself a sovereign however, sold these as real destinations, complete with "diplomatic" credentials. He even styled himself as Westarctica's "Baron," which is less a title and more a cry for a country where bureaucracy is a blood sport, Jain's hustle is both laughable and oddly admirable. He forged MEA seals, instead of some low-level patwari's. He knew few cops dare to stop and extort from diplomats so he got the vehicular equivalent of sticking a "VIP" sticker on your scooter. Jain's plan worked, at least for a while, because India loves a good someone you're an ambassador with a selfie next to Modi ji, and they'll hand over their life savings faster than you can say "visa approved."So, what's next? An FIR's been lodged at Kavi Nagar police station, and the STF is digging deeper. Jain's embassy of nowhere is crumbling, but the question lingers: how did he pull this off for so long?Maybe it's because, in Delhi, we're so used to embassies and CD numberplates, a fake embassy feels like just another problem is Jain opened one in Kavi Nagar, Ghaziabad. Had this been in South Delhi, he would be having a nice lunch at Habitat with a fellow diplomat. Because diplomats and consuls are all over the markets, only god and Delhi Police know how many are of countries invented by Jain's fellow diplomats.- EndsTrending Reel
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First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
‘Baron of Westarctica': How a UP man ran fake embassy from a Ghaziabad bungalow for 7 years
Harshvardhan Jain was arrested on Tuesday by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) for operating a fake 'Westarctica' embassy out of a rented house in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar. He posed as a 'Baron' representing Westarctica, a self-declared micronation claiming land in Antarctica and founded by a former US Navy officer. During the raid, officials recovered luxury cars with diplomatic plates, stamps from 34 countries, Rs 44 lakh in cash, and more read more Harshvardhan Jain was arrested on Tuesday by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). Image: News18 Until Tuesday, few people, even in his own Ghaziabad neighbourhood, had any idea what was going on inside his home. Now, he has been exposed as the man behind one of the most unusual cons recently. He posed as a diplomat from imaginary countries and shared edited photos with some of India's top leaders. Harshvardhan Jain was arrested on Tuesday by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). He had been running a fake 'Westarctica' embassy from a rented house in Kavi Nagar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the raid, officials found luxury cars with diplomatic plates, 'diplomatic passports' linked to 12 micronations, stamps from 34 countries, Rs 44 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and an expensive watch collection. But who is Harshvardhan Jain? And how did he turn a bungalow in Ghaziabad into a fake embassy? Let's find out: Who is Harshvardhan Jain? The 56-year-old has claimed to live many lives. Police say he introduced himself as the 'Ambassador of Westarctica' and also claimed to be the 'consul' of Seborga, Lodonia, and Poulvia, which are micronations with no official recognition. He posed as a 'Baron' representing Westarctica, which claims land in Antarctica and was founded by a US Navy officer. Though the so-called country is not recognised by any official authority, Jain is accused of using its name, along with made-up titles and honorary positions, to gain access to high-profile groups. Notably, Jain holds an MBA from the London College of Applied Science, as well as another MBA from ITS College in Ghaziabad, India Today reported. His father was a businessman based in Ghaziabad, and the family owned marble mines in Rajasthan. After his father's death and facing financial difficulties, Jain came in contact with controversial godman Chandraswami. With his help, Jain moved to London, where he started several businesses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Investigating agencies say these companies were used to conceal unaccounted money, the report said. After Chandraswami's death, Jain returned to Ghaziabad and set up a fake embassy to trick people. He rented a grand bungalow in Ghaziabad and presented it as the 'Consulate-General in New Delhi' for Westarctica. The official Instagram page of Westarctica posted images of the house just before the police raid, claiming 'Baron HV Jain' had been heading the consulate since 2017 and often hosted charity events. He was seen driving luxury cars with false diplomatic number plates, distributing business cards and press passes that looked authentic enough to avoid suspicion, and for a moment, they worked. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To appear credible, he even edited photos of himself with top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. What is Westarctica? Westarctica is not a real country. It was created in 2001 by an American named Travis McHenry, who laid claim to an uninhabited part of Antarctica. It has a website, a self-proclaimed 'Grand Duke,' and a symbolic system of nobility. However, it is not recognised by the United Nations, the Indian government, or any official authority. How Harshvardhan Jain turned a bungalow into fake embassy Jain's 'embassy' in Ghaziabad managed to convince quite a few people. The bungalow displayed foreign flags, and his vehicles had number plates marked 'DC', short for Diplomatic Corps. Inside, there were documents with official-looking letterheads, forged IDs, fake seals, and edited photos with figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President APJ Abdul Kalam. #WATCH | Noida unit of UP STF busted an illegal embassy running in Ghaziabad and arrested Harsh Vardhan Jain, who was running an illegal West Arctic Embassy by taking a rented house in Kavinagar calling himself Consul/Ambassador of countries like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia,… — ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Officers say he used these props to appear credible, draw people into business arrangements, and offer fake diplomatic 'posts' to those willing to pay. According to NDTV, Jain was also linked to shell companies that may have been involved in hawala-like transactions. Through his so-called embassies, he promised job placements and business contacts abroad. But behind the grand setup was a bigger scam. Jain is accused of taking large sums from individuals and firms in return for overseas placements and special permissions for international ventures, News18 reported. 'He ran a broker network. People believed his promises because he looked the part — from fancy cars to custom-made diplomatic suits,' ADG (Law & Order) Amitabh Yash said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To appear credible, he even edited photos of himself with top leaders. Image: News18 What did the police find? The Special Task Force had been observing Jain for weeks after a tip-off. When officers raided the Ghaziabad property on July 22, they found: 4 luxury cars, including a Range Rover, Toyota Fortuner, and a Skoda, all with fake diplomatic plates. 18 spare number plates, many marked with 'DC' or 'CD,' symbols usually reserved for official diplomats. 12 forged diplomatic passports from Westarctica and other imaginary countries. Rs 44.70 lakh in cash, along with several foreign currencies. 34 fake seals, two press cards, two PAN cards, and a collection of forged documents, including letters from the Ministry of External Affairs, invitations, and nameplates. Jain has been charged with forgery, impersonation, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. The FIR has been filed at the Kavi Nagar police station. Police believe others may have helped him, including those who created documents, handled money, or promoted the fake setup within influential circles.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
STF nabs arms smuggler, weapons recovered
: Police arrested a 59-year-old arms smuggler near platform number 9 of Cantt railway station in Varanasi on Tuesday. A large number of illegal weapons were found with him. The accused, Mithailal, is originally from Bhuili Khas village in Mirzapur and currently lives in Sarnath. He was caught by a joint team of the Special Task Force (STF) and Cantt police. During questioning, Mithailal told police he used to make weapons while living in rented houses in Mirzapur and Sarnath. (For representation only) On Wednesday, deputy commissioner of Police (Varuna), Pramod Kumar, said the police received a tip-off that someone was coming to the station to sell illegal arms. Based on this, the team reached the spot and arrested the accused. Police said that Mithailal had been arrested earlier as well for arms smuggling. This time, officers recovered three 9 mm pistols, a semi-made 32 bore revolver, eight live cartridges of various types including AK-47, over 10 used cartridges, 10 shells of 7.62 mm and 8 mm, five pistol magazines, tools for making arms, a train ticket, and ₹452 in cash. During questioning, Mithailal told police he used to make weapons while living in rented houses in Mirzapur and Sarnath. More than six criminal cases have already been filed against him in Cantt, Maduadih, and Sarnath police stations. These cases date back from 2005 to 2025.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Conman operating fake embassy in Ghaziabad arrested
A fraudster operating an illegal embassy of the unrecognised micronation Westarctica from a rented house in Ghaziabad was arrested by the Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Tuesday, senior police officials said here on Wednesday. Vehicles with fake diplomatic number plates. (SOURCED) The accused, identified as Harshvardhan Jain, was operating an illegal diplomatic mission of Westarctica from a rented house in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar locality, said UP Police additional director general (ADG), Law & Order, Amitabh Yash. Westarctica is located in the western portion of Antarctica. He said the accused claimed to be the consul/ambassador of countries like Westarctica, Seborga, Poulvia and Lodonia. Ladonia is a micronation, proclaimed in 1996 by artist Lars Vilks. It is located on the Kullaberg Peninsula in southern Sweden. The Principality of Seborga is an unrecognised micronation located in the northwestern Italian Province of Imperia in Liguria. Officially, it remains a part of Italy. Poulvia is a fictitious country. The consul is a government official residing in a foreign country to represent the interests of their home country and its citizens, he said, adding they issue visas, renew passports, and provide assistance to citizens abroad, while also promoting trade relations. The ADG said the accused used diplomatic number plates on his vehicles and morphed photos with prominent figures like the Prime Minister and President to impress people. 'His main activities included brokering deals for companies and individuals to work abroad and running a hawala racket through shell companies. Investigations revealed Harshvardhan's past connections with Chandraswami and Adnan Khashoggi, an international arms dealer,' he said. 'In 2012, Harshvardhan was found with illegal satellite phones, and a case was registered at the Kavi Nagar police station in Ghaziabad,' the ADG added. He stated several items and incriminating evidence were seized from Jain's rented house, including ₹44.70 lakh cash, foreign currency of several countries, four vehicles with diplomatic number plates, 18 diplomatic number plates, 12 diplomatic passports of micronations, forged documents with the Ministry of External Affairs seal, two fake PAN cards, 34 seals of various countries and companies, two fake press cards and documents of various companies. He said a case was registered at the Kavi Nagar police station in Ghaziabad, and further legal proceedings are underway.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Ghaziabad's bungalow of lies: Morphed Modi photos, high-end cars; inside fake diplomat Harshvardhan Jain's lavish KB-45 mansion
Operating from his Ghaziabad 'embassy,' Jain allegedly ran a nine-year fraud, accumulating fake documents, diplomatic plates, and foreign currency. Authorities suspect the lavish operation served as a front for a hawala racket. GHAZIABAD: A man who plucked out from obscurity names of micronations like Westarctica and Ladonia and declared himself their ambassador was arrested on Wednesday by the Noida unit of UP's special task force from his 'embassy' in Ghaziabad. Harshvardhan Jain's portfolio of gobbledegook included calling himself a diplomat from Seborga and Paulovia. He apparently found takers for this tripe, enabling the 47-year-old to perpetuate a fraud that went on for nine years. He bestowed on himself the titles of 'Honorary Consul Baron Westarctica', engraved on the number plate of a Merc found parked on the premises, and 'Honorary Consigliere Principato Di Seborga', which adorned the blue diplomatic plate of a Hyundai Sonata. Fake country stamps, passports, four cars with diplomatic registration plates, and foreign currency were recovered from the lavish Kavi Nagar bungalow that Jain rented six months ago for Rs 1.8 lakh per month. Police also found two forged press cards, indicating the 'diplomat' and 'baron' may also have pretended to be a journalist. Jain, according to police, was born into a wealthy family and got an MBA from a London college. The 'embassy' was allegedly the front for a hawala racket he ran. Fake diplomat at work: Flags, high-end cars, morphed pics Special superintendent of police (STF) Sushil Ghule said central agencies were on the lookout for Jain, but it was an anonymous tipoff that took the STF to bungalow number KB-45 in Kavi Nagar at 10pm on Tuesday. Over the next seven hours — the raid continued till 3pm on Wednesday — the team scanned and seized volumes of documents, allegedly linked to an elaborate job scam and the hawala money network. 'Jain had morphed photos to show him in the company of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President APJ Abdul Kalam. He had padded the house with flags of foreign nations. The cars parked in front embellished the appearance of the house as an important compound.' SP (Noida STF) Raj Kumar Mishra told TOI that during interrogation, Jain claimed that he was appointed an adviser to the 'principality of Seborga', which is a self-proclaimed principality in the Italian riviera, in 2012. He also claimed that in 2016, the Grand Duchy of Westarctica — another micronation in western Antarctica — appointed him honorary ambassador. Jain made similar claims for Ladonia, a micronation in Sweden, and Paulovia, which seems to be a name cooked up by him. Micronations, to be clear, are not sovereign countries and aren't recognised entities. Micronations are distinct from microstates, such as Liechtenstein or Vatican City, whose sovereignty over extremely small territories and populations is internationally recognised. According to investigators, Jain started to operate his 'embassy' from his parents' property — bungalow number KB-35 — in the same colony in 2016. 'For nine years, he operated out of this house before shifting to KB-45, which is owned by a person called Sushil Kumar,' Mishra said, adding cops were yet to ascertain how many people Jain may have cheated during this period and what his exact modus operandi was. 'He used the fake designations to draw people into conversations and gradually offered them jobs in foreign companies. He would later charge them by offering help to open overseas bank accounts or purchase properties. We are investigating his connections with gangsters abroad,' Mishra added. The STF indicated he had contacts abroad, but it's yet to be ascertained how many people, if he indeed did, send abroad. The STF found in his possession 18 fake diplomatic number plates, 12 forged diplomatic passports from these micronations, fake documents carrying the seal of the foreign ministry, two forged PAN cards and 34 rubber stamps of various countries and organisations. 'We also found Rs 44 lakh in cash, assorted foreign currencies, and 12 imported luxury watches,' Ghule said. An FIR has been registered against Jain at Kavi Nagar police station under BNS Sections 318 (4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 336 (3) (forgery for purpose of cheating), 338 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.) and 340 (2) (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record). He was sent to police custody by a local court.
