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NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Bihar Gangster Killed In Police Encounter In Uttar Pradesh
Hapur/Lucknow: A gangster wanted in a high-profile murder case in Bihar was killed in an encounter with police in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh, a senior officer said here on Monday. The gunfight broke out on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, Additional Director General (ADG) of UP STF Amitabh Yash said in a statement. The exchange of fire took place in the Simbhaoli area of Hapur district, involving the Noida unit of the special task force of the Uttar Pradesh Police, along with Bihar Police and Hapur police. During the encounter, the gangster sustained a gunshot injury to his chest and was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to injuries, he said. According to ADG Yash, a significant quantity of firearms, cartridges, and other items were seized. The dead has been identified as Dabloo Yadav, a resident of Sahebpur Kamal area in Begusarai district of Bihar. He was a wanted criminal in a murder case and carried a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. Yadav was the main accused in the abduction and murder of Vikash Kumar alias Rakesh Kadam, the block president of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM party) and a social worker, in Begusarai district, the STF said. On May 24, 2025, Yadav, with the help of his gang, kidnapped Kadam from the Sahebpur Kamal area and took him to the riverine 'diara' region where he was killed and buried under sand to conceal the body, the STF added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Bihar's wanted gangster W Yadav gunned down in Hapur encounter
W Yadav, a resident of Begusarai, had been absconding for several months after being accused of a murder in Bihar. NEW DELHI: A man with an Rs 50,000 bounty on his head, wanted in a murder case from Bihar, was gunned down in an early morning encounter by a joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and Bihar Police in Hapur district's Simbhaoli police station area. W Yadav, a resident of Begusarai, had been absconding for several months after being accused of a murder in Bihar, and law enforcement agencies had been tracking his movements across state lines. Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Vineet Bhatnagar said the operation was carried out based on specific intelligence inputs regarding W Yadav's whereabouts in western Uttar Pradesh. The joint team moved swiftly, laying a trap in the Simbhaoli area on Sunday morning. "On being challenged, the accused opened fire at the police team, prompting retaliatory action. In the brief exchange of fire, Yadav sustained bullet injuries. He was taken to the hospital where doctors declared him brought dead," said ASP Bhatnagar.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
162 Trips Abroad, 300-Crore Scam: Fake Embassy Probe Reveals Big Secrets
New Delhi: Possible links to a scam worth nearly Rs 300 crore, 162 foreign trips in 10 years and multiple overseas bank accounts: the investigation against Harshvardhan Jain, arrested for running a fake embassy in Ghaziabad for eight years, has revealed shocking details. Jain was arrested last week from the rented two-storey house in Ghaziabad that he claimed was an embassy. Investigation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) found that Jain was allegedly involved in running a job racket and was also involved in money laundering through the Hawala route. During the raid on the Ghaziabad premises, police seized four cars with fake diplomatic number plates, forged documents and also a luxury watch collection. Police will be seeking Jain's custody in court tomorrow. Jain, cops said, could be involved in a scam amounting to nearly Rs 300 crore. A Fake Embassy Outside the swanky two-storey building in Ghaziabad, a name plate read, "Grand Duchy of Westarctica" and "H E HV Jain Honorary Consul". The premises had the flags of India and Westarctica, a micronation in Antarctica not recognised by any sovereign state in the world. According to investigators, Jain would use this front for networking and then lure people with jobs abroad. This fake embassy had been running since 2017, the probe has revealed. Jain would organise charity events, including bhandaras (community feast), outside the 'embassy' to keep up the show. He rented the building six months back, although he was running a fake embassy for about eight years. A Shady 'Godman' Link During the raid on the fake embassy, police found photos of Jain with controversial "godman" Chandraswami and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. A self-proclaimed godman, Chandraswami rose to influence in the 80s and 90s, so much so that he was considered the spiritual adviser of three Prime Ministers - PV Narasimha Rao, Chandra Shekhar and VP Singh. He came under the scanner for financial irregularities and was arrested in 1996. A raid at his ashram also uncovered dealings with Khashoggi. Chandraswami was also accused of funding the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. A Massive Scam The UP STF has found that it was Chandraswami who introduced Jain to Khassogi and conman Ahsan Ali Sayed. Sayed, it is alleged, worked with Jain to open 25 shell companies that were used to launder money. Born in Hyderabad, Sayed later became a Turkish citizen. Sayed ran a company in Switzerland, Western Advisory Group, which liaised with companies and promised to help them procure loans in exchange for brokerage. This company, it is alleged, collected brokerage worth 25 million pounds -- nearly Rs 300 crore -- and fled Swiss territory. Ahsan was arrested in 2022 in London. Police are now investigating the degree of Jain's involvement in the massive scam. Earlier, police found that Jain used the fake embassy and diplomatic cover for networking and lured people with jobs. Westartica Suspends Fake Baron Following Jain's arrest, Westarctica, the micronation of which he was an honorary consul, has distanced itself. "In 2016, Mr HV Jain made a generous donation to Westarctica and was subsequently invited to join our team of international volunteers who advance our environmental and charitable mission in their home countries. His official title was 'Honorary Consul to India'. He was never granted the position or authority of 'ambassador'," Westarctica has said in a statement. "During his recent arrest for fraud and other crimes, Mr. Jain was found to be in possession of diplomatic number plates, passports, and other items bearing the seal of Westarctica. As an Honorary Consul, he was not authorized to create these items. Westarctica, itself, does not utilize number plates or passports and we have never permitted or encouraged our representatives to do so themselves. By calling his home an 'embassy', Mr Jain was in violation of Westarctica's protocol for our representatives," it said. Westarctica said Jain has been "indefinitely suspended as a representative of our organization". "Our executive team is currently looking into the matter further, and our hearts go out to any individuals who were victimized by Mr. Jain. We will cooperate fully with the legal authorities in India." What Is Westarctica Travis McHenry, a US Navy officer, founded the micronation Westarctica in 2001 and appointed himself its Grand Duke. Located in Antarctica, Westarctica has an area of 6,20,000 square miles; McHenry used a loophole in the Antarctic Treaty System to appoint himself the ruler. While the treaty prohibits countries from laying claim to parts of Antarctica, it says nothing about private individuals. Westarctica claims it has 2,356 citizens -- none of them live there. Based in southern California, the Grand Duchy of Westarctica functions as a non-profit that spreads awareness about climate change and Antarctica. It has its flag, currency and also issues titles that no government recognises.
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
Ghaziabad fake embassy case: Meet Harsh Vardhan Jain who visited 40 countries, had 12 forged diplomatic passports
Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) busted a full-fledged embassy of 'West Arctica', a non-existence country, at a rented accommodation in Ghaziabad on July 23. It arrested Harsh Vardhan Jain who was running it in two-storey building, with also a claim to be the ambassador of 'Saborga', 'Poulvia', and 'Lodonia'. Jain kept luxury vehicles with "diplomatic" number plate outside the bungalow and put "flags of these nations' which were often hoisted on its premises to pretend as real consulate. He was found with stamps and photos (morphed) with prime ministers and presidents, including 12 forged diplomatic passports of micronations. He purportedly ran a job scam by assuring people work in foreign countries and is believed to have visited 40 countries. Harsh Vardhan Jain, 47, is a resident of Kavi Nagar in Ghaziabad of Uttar Pradesh and an accused in Ghaziabad fake embassy case. He studied Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and is a graduate in Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from London in United Kingdom, UP STF official said while investigating the case. His father, JD Jain, is an industrialist who owned a rolling mill in Ghaziabad. The family also operated marble mines in Rajasthan under the name JD Marbles, which previously exported marble to London. He came back to India in 2011. Uttar Pradesh Police, in 2012, arrested him for the unauthorised possession of a satellite phone. The police filed a case under the Telegraph Buyers Unlawful Possession Act at Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar police station. He was allegedly involved in an illegal arms trafficking network and carried out financial fraud under the guise of operating foreign companies. Jain was in communication with Chandraswami, a contentious spiritual mentor. 'It was Chandraswami who introduced [Mr.] Jain to Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and India-born Turkish national Ahsan Ali Syed. Together with Syed, Jain allegedly set up over a dozen brokerage firms in the U.K. In 2006, he shifted base to Dubai's Umm Al-Quwain through a cousin living there," The Hindu quoted an UP STF official as saying. He added, 'During his foreign trips, the accused partnered with Hyderabad-based Shafiq and Dubai's Ibrahim Ali-Bin-Shaarma to float more firms, ostensibly offering overseas job placements and business deals. Such companies are also formed for financial frauds and potentially illegal arms deals.'
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Indian police busts illegal embassy near New Delhi, one arrested
Noida: The Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) busted an illegal embassy in Ghaziabad and arrested an accused who was running the illegal West Arctic Embassy by taking a rented house in Kavinagar, calling himself Consul/Ambassador, and travelling in vehicles with diplomatic number plates, ADG Law and Order, Uttar Pradesh, said. Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order, Uttar Pradesh said, "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, Lodonia and travels in vehicles with diplomatic number plates." The ADG further stated that documents of many companies have been recovered. "Four vehicles with diplomatic number plates. 12 diplomatic passports of micronation countries. Forged documents with the seal of Ministry of External Affairs. Two forged PAN cards. 34 seals of different countries and companies. 2 forged press cards. Rs 44,70,000 in cash. Foreign currency of many countries. Documents of many companies have been recovered," ADG Law and Order further stated. According to the Police the arrested suspect Harshvardhan Jain used to portray himself as ambassador of nations like West Arctica, Sabroga, Poulvia and Lodonia. Multiple fake stamps, passports, diplomatic registration plates, cash- both foreign and domestic have been recovered in the raid. SSP STF Sushil Ghule said, "UP STF Noida unit on July 22 in Ghaziabad has arrested an accused running an illegal embassy. His name is Harsh Vardhan Jain. He lives in Kavinagar, Ghaziabad. He used to talk to people calling himself Ambassador of countries like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, Lodonia. Some vehicles have been seized from him on which he has placed some diplomatic number plates which are not approved. He also used morphed photographs with well known dignitaries. He used to make fake promises to provide jobs abroad. Through shell companies he used to run Hawala racket." "He was also arrested in 2011. A satellite phone was seized at that time. 12 passports have been seized from him," he added.
