Fake Embassy Racket: Ghaziabad Man Held 12 Diplomatic Passports, Visited 40 Nations Over 10 Years

A man from Ghaziabad, Harsh Vardhan Jain, has been arrested for running a fake embassy. He held 12 diplomatic passports and visited over 40 countries in 10 years, posing as the ambassador of a fictitious nation called 'Westarctica'. Jain allegedly used the fake companies to promise overseas employment and business opportunities to unsuspecting individuals. Authorities have filed a plea seeking his custodial remand for deeper interrogation.

Ghaziabad, India — Police in India have arrested Harsh Vardhan Jain, a 47-year-old man who was running a fake embassy for several micronations. Jain posed as the ambassador of Westarctica, Seborga, Paulovia, and Ladonia, among others, for over a decade. The operation was based out of a rented house in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of New Delhi.

During the investigation, police found a cache of cash, luxury cars, fake passports, and VIP car number plates. Jain's scheme involved creating fake diplomatic car number plates and using manipulated photographs with renowned people to lure victims. He promised jobs abroad and charged individuals to open bank accounts and buy properties.

Jain's arrest has shed light on a complex international financial network. He visited over 40 countries, including the UK, UAE, Mauritius, and Turkey, using 12 diplomatic passports. Investigators have identified several shell companies and bank accounts linked to Jain in various countries. The police are currently determining the number of people he may have duped.

Jain's ties to controversial figures such as godman Chandraswami and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi have also been revealed. He allegedly worked with Ehsan Ali Syed, a Hyderabad-based businessman serving a sentence in Switzerland for defrauding multiple companies.

The police have filed a plea seeking Jain's custodial remand for further interrogation. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.

References:
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-25/man-arrested-for-running-fake-embassy-in-india/105571606
[2] https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/where-is-westarctica-saborga-poulvia-and-lodonia-ghaziabad-man-held-for-running-embassies-with-fake-passports-currency/3924369/
[3] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/ghaziabad-man-fake-westarctica-embassy-visited-40-countries-up-police-10150512/