For nearly seven years, a lavish bungalow in Ghaziabad’s Kavi Nagar posed as an official embassy representing exotic-sounding but unrecognized micronations like Westarctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. Behind this elaborate facade was Harshvardhan Jain, a self-styled “diplomat” who has now been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for allegedly running a sophisticated job scam and hawala network.

His deception, complete with luxury cars bearing diplomatic plates, forged documents, and fake passports, had gone unnoticed until an STF raid finally exposed his grand illusion.

Who is Harshvardhan Jain?

Harshvardhan Jain, a businessman’s son from Ghaziabad, holds an MBA from both London College of Applied Science and ITS College, Ghaziabad. After suffering financial setbacks following his father’s death, Jain reportedly found support from controversial godman Chandraswami, which helped him move to London and launch several companies now suspected to have been used for laundering unaccounted money.

Investigators claim Jain had international connections, including ties to arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, and that he returned to India only after Chandraswami’s death. Once back, he began orchestrating what is now being called one of the boldest embassy frauds in recent memory.

A Fake Embassy in Plain Sight

From the outside, it looked official national flags, a staff, high-end vehicles, and even faux diplomatic credentials. Jain styled himself as a consul or ambassador of fantasy nations. But according to the STF, it was all a front to:

• Dupe job-seekers with fake promises of overseas employment

• Broker fraudulent business deals under the guise of international diplomacy

• Run hawala operations through shell firms and forged identities

This wasn’t Jain’s first brush with the law either back in 2011, he was caught with illegal satellite phones, and a case was registered against him in Ghaziabad.

What Was Seized in the Raid?

When STF officers raided his residence this week, they were shocked by what they uncovered:

• 💵 ₹44 lakh in cash

• 🌍 Foreign currency from multiple nations

• 🚗 Four luxury vehicles with fake diplomatic number plates

• 🛂 12 fake diplomatic passports

• 🏷️ 18 fabricated diplomatic plates

• 🧾 Forged documents stamped with Ministry of External Affairs seals

• 📝 34 official-looking seals, fake press IDs, and company papers

• 📑 Two fake PAN cards

The entire setup was intended to lend authenticity to his scheme, helping him gain the trust of unsuspecting victims.

Why Create a Fake Embassy?

The goal? Money and influence. By portraying himself as an international diplomat, Jain allegedly convinced people to pay for jobs abroad, sign deals, or participate in trade agreements that never existed. It allowed him to exploit both legal grey areas and people’s desperation.

He even morphed photos with prominent leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President APJ Abdul Kalam to appear legitimate and it worked for years.

The Scam That Finally Collapsed

Despite maintaining this ruse for nearly a decade, his empire began to crack after intelligence inputs hinted at unusual activities involving foreign currency and diplomatic symbols. The STF operation not only exposed a fraudulent "state," but also uncovered a complex nexus of forgery, financial crime, and deception.

Authorities are now working to identify victims and investigate the extent of the alleged hawala network and international fraud.