Latest news with #diplomaticfraud
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
British-educated man running ‘fake embassy' from bungalow is arrested in India
Indian police have arrested a British-educated man on suspicion of running a fake embassy that extorted workers by offering them jobs in non-existent countries. Harshvardhan Jain, 47, is accused of impersonating an ambassador, possessing false diplomatic car number plates and promising employment in fake countries such as 'Westarctica' and 'Seborga'. Sushil Ghule, a senior officer from the Uttar Pradesh police force, said Jain was also found with doctored photographs of himself posing with world leaders and dozens of fake government seals. Jain was arrested at a rental property in Ghaziabad, northern India, where he ran the fake embassy, CNN reported on Saturday. During a search of the bungalow, police found millions of Indian rupees and other currencies, as well as four cars with false diplomatic plates and the flags of various countries. Indian police have charged Jain with forgery, impersonation and possession of fake documents, including 12 diplomatic passports. According to The Hindu, an Indian newspaper, the false passports identified Jain as the 'Consul' of the non-existent micronations of 'Westarctica', 'Saborga', 'Poulvia' and 'Lodonia'. Indian police have accused Jain of a 'modus operandi of fraud, hawala [unofficial money transfers] and brokerage' and said his criminal enterprise had been running for nearly two decades. He is understood to have at least 11 bank accounts in four countries, three of them in the UK, and multiple shell companies around the world, the Indian Express reported. 'He worked as a broker in Gulf and African countries. When he returned to India in 2011, he resumed operations from his family home before shifting to the rented bungalow,' Indian police said. India media reported that Jain hailed from a wealthy business family and had studied for a master's degree in business administration at an unnamed London university. The suspect is 'part of an illegal arms trade network and [has] committed financial frauds in the garb of overseas firms', the newspaper added, citing the Uttar Pradesh police force. He was also reportedly arrested in 2012 by the same force for illegal possession of a satellite phone. Jain has not commented on the allegations, CNN reported on Saturday.
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.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
India: Noida unit of Uttar Pradesh STF busts illegal embassy running in Ghaziabad, 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.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
A man in India ran a fake embassy, Indian police say
Indian police have arrested a man accused of running a bogus embassy from a rented residential building near the capital, New Delhi, and recovered cars with fake diplomatic plates. The suspect impersonated an ambassador and allegedly duped people for money by promising overseas employment, said senior police officer Sushil Ghule of Uttar Pradesh state's special task force in northern India. According to police, Harshvardhan Jain, 47, claimed to have acted as an adviser or ambassador to entities such as 'Seborga' or 'Westarctica.' Police recovered multiple doctored photographs showing Jain with world leaders, and fake seals of India's foreign ministry and nearly three dozen countries, Ghule said. Jain was also suspected of illegal money laundering through shell companies abroad, he said. He is also facing charges of forgery, impersonation and possessing fake documents. Police recovered four cars bearing fake diplomatic plates and nearly 4.5 million Indian rupees ($52,095) and other foreign currencies in cash from Jain's rented premises, which were adorned with international flags of several nations. Jain or his lawyer couldn't be immediately reached for comment.
CNN
5 days ago
- CNN
Man posed as an ambassador and ran a fake embassy, Indian police say
India AsiaFacebookTweetLink Follow Indian police have arrested a man accused of running a bogus embassy from a rented residential building near the capital, New Delhi, and recovered cars with fake diplomatic plates. The suspect impersonated an ambassador and allegedly duped people for money by promising overseas employment, said senior police officer Sushil Ghule of Uttar Pradesh state's special task force in northern India. According to police, Harshvardhan Jain, 47, claimed to have acted as an adviser or ambassador to entities such as 'Seborga' or 'Westarctica.' Police recovered multiple doctored photographs showing Jain with world leaders, and fake seals of India's foreign ministry and nearly three dozen countries, Ghule said. Jain was also suspected of illegal money laundering through shell companies abroad, he said. He is also facing charges of forgery, impersonation and possessing fake documents. Police recovered four cars bearing fake diplomatic plates and nearly 4.5 million Indian rupees ($52,095) and other foreign currencies in cash from Jain's rented premises, which were adorned with international flags of several nations. Jain or his lawyer couldn't be immediately reached for comment.
