New Delhi: Harshvardhan Jain, a 47‑year‑old Ghaziabad resident, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) for orchestrating an elaborate sham embassy operation that masked a massive financial scam reportedly worth up to ₹300 crore.
Jain posed as a diplomat for several self‑declared micronations—Westarctica, Seborga, Ladonia, and Poulvia—operating from a rented two‑storey bungalow in Kavi Nagar adorned with foreign flags and outfitted with luxury vehicles bearing fake diplomatic plates. The residence functioned as a façade for visa services, passport issuance, and job placements abroad, all offered in exchange for hefty commissions.
A decade-long investigation revealed Jain undertook a staggering 162 foreign trips between 2005 and 2015, visiting around 19 countries—most frequently the UAE (54 times) and the UK (22 times).
25 shell companies linked to Jain’s fake embassy
Authorities traced 25 shell companies linked to Jain across the UK, UAE, Mauritius, and Cameroon. They also identified 10 international bank accounts in his name: six in Dubai, three in the UK, and one in Mauritius.
The STF seized a vast collection of incriminating evidence during the raid: approximately ₹44–54 lakh in cash, foreign currency, four luxury vehicles with counterfeit diplomatic plates, 12 forged diplomatic passports, forged seals and documents from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and other nations, luxury watches, rubber stamps, press cards, and fake PAN cards.
300 crore scam
Further probe suggests Jain collaborated closely with Ahsan Ali Syed, a Hyderabad-born Turkish national, and had links to controversial figures such as Indian godman Chandraswami and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. It’s alleged Jain and Syed facilitated loans to financially struggling Swiss firms via shell companies, siphoning off commissions that may total ₹300 crore. Investigators are examining hawala transactions and earlier transfers of ₹20 crore from Khashoggi between 2002 and 2004.
Westarctica—the micronation whose consul Jain claimed to be—has since suspended his status, stating he was only an honorary consul, never authorized to issue passports or number plates. They clarified he violated their protocols by misrepresenting his credentials.
Police have filed an FIR against Jain under multiple sections relating to forgery, impersonation, and fraud. A custody remand hearing is scheduled, and investigators expect the probe to broaden as they scrutinize his international financial networks, shell companies, and alleged arms‑and‑money laundering connections.
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