Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh –
Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested a 47-year-old man for running a fake embassy of a self-proclaimed micronation from a rented house in Ghaziabad’s upscale Kavi Nagar locality. The accused, Harshvardhan Jain, had been posing as an ambassador of Westarctica and several other unrecognized entities, duping businessmen and operating what authorities believe was a front for a hawala racket.
Harshvardhan Jain’s fake diplomatic mission allegedly began in 2016 and had been operating undisturbed for nearly a decade. During a raid, police uncovered ₹44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency equivalent to ₹30 lakh, and a range of luxury goods. The search also yielded four premium vehicles, including an Audi and a Mercedes-Benz, each bearing fake diplomatic license plates, along with 12 counterfeit passports, 34 forged embassy stamps, high-end watches, and fraudulent identification documents.
According to Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General of Law and Order, Jain had decorated his rented property like a consulate, displaying flags of fictitious micronations such as Westarctica, Seborga, Ladonia, and Poulvia. Micronations are self-declared independent entities that are not officially recognized by any government or the United Nations.
“India does not recognize any of these micronations,” Yash stated. “Operating an embassy without the Ministry of External Affairs’ approval is a violation of national sovereignty.”
Officials say Jain claimed to be an advisor to Seborga, a self-declared principality located near the France-Italy border, since 2012. In 2016, he also began identifying as an honorary consul of Westarctica, an entity claiming territory in western Antarctica.
Police said Jain exploited these fake titles to gain access to influential circles and deceive wealthy individuals. The investigation revealed he used his supposed diplomatic status to facilitate illegal transactions and mislead victims with promises of international business deals.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Noida STF) Raj Kumar Mishra confirmed Jain’s confession. “He admitted to operating a bogus embassy with the aim of duping businessmen and running a hawala network,” said Mishra. “He even admitted to using fake diplomatic cars to add legitimacy to his claims.”
The rented property, where the so-called embassy was being run, was leased just five months ago at a staggering ₹1.8 lakh per month. Jain, his wife, and their minor son had moved into the house, while his father continued to reside at their previous home in the same neighborhood.
The bust followed a series of intelligence inputs and tip-offs. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Sub-Inspector Sachin Kumar of the UP Special Task Force (STF), multiple alerts had been received regarding suspicious diplomatic activities in the area. Locals reported Jain’s regular movement in high-end cars displaying VIP plates and foreign flags.
A senior UP-STF official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the final confirmation came after consulting central agencies. These agencies verified that no such diplomatic mission had any legal standing or recognition from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Following his arrest, Jain was presented in a local court and has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Authorities are now expanding the investigation to trace possible links to arms dealers and international financial networks. “We are examining electronic devices and documents recovered during the raid to track the flow of illegal money and connections beyond India,” Mishra added.
The case has raised serious concerns about the potential misuse of diplomatic symbols and titles, and authorities are working to tighten scrutiny around such fraudulent representations.
