Authorities in Ghaziabad have uncovered a fraudulent operation where a man posed as a diplomat from a non-existent country, leading to his arrest. The individual, Harshvardhan Jain, was detained by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on July 22, 2025, for allegedly running a fake embassy from a rented property in the Kavi Nagar area.
Jain, 47, claimed to represent the fictitious nation of "Westarctica" and other unrecognized entities. He used doctored photographs featuring himself with global leaders and displayed counterfeit diplomatic seals to enhance his credibility. Additionally, Jain operated vehicles with fake diplomatic license plates and was found in possession of large sums of cash and foreign currencies.
Investigations revealed that Jain had been operating this scheme for several years, deceiving individuals and businesses by promising overseas employment opportunities and international business deals. He also established shell companies abroad, suspected of being used for money laundering activities.
The STF's raid uncovered multiple forged documents, including diplomatic passports from various unrecognized nations, fake seals, and luxury items. Jain faces charges of impersonation, forgery, and possession of counterfeit documents. Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify potential collaborators and to understand the full extent of the fraudulent network.