Harshvardhan Jain has been arrested for running a fake embassy from a rented two-storey house in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, for nearly eight years. Posing as a diplomat representing unrecognized micronations such as Westarctica, Jain allegedly used the bogus setup to orchestrate a massive international scam involving fake job offers, money laundering, and forged diplomatic credentials.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), Jain’s fraudulent operations may have amassed nearly ₹300 crore. His network spanned several countries and included 162 foreign trips over the past decade to manage at least 25 shell companies in the UAE, UK, Mauritius, and Cameroon. Authorities seized luxury vehicles with fake diplomatic license plates, 12 counterfeit diplomatic passports, forged documents, high-end watches, and bank records indicating 11 active accounts in India and abroad.
The investigation revealed that Jain presented himself as an honorary consul of Westarctica, a micronation claiming territory in Antarctica but not recognized by any sovereign state. He lured individuals with promises of overseas employment, using the fake embassy as a front. The office featured flags of India and Westarctica, and Jain held events under the guise of charity to reinforce the illusion of legitimacy.
Jain’s scam extended beyond false job offers. He reportedly collaborated with infamous individuals such as the late godman Chandraswami and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Chandraswami introduced him to Hyderabad-born conman Ahsan Ali Sayed, who was arrested in London in 2022 for a separate ₹300 crore loan fraud case. Jain and Sayed are believed to have jointly operated a complex web of shell companies for laundering money via hawala channels.
Forged documents recovered include fake PAN cards, press IDs, and even morphed photographs with well-known figures to support his false diplomatic persona. Officials also uncovered seals forged in the name of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Following Jain’s arrest, Westarctica issued a public statement distancing itself from him, clarifying that he held only an honorary title with no official authority to issue passports or diplomatic plates. His position was suspended with immediate effect.
Jain has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to cheating, forgery, and possession of forged documents. The STF is seeking extended custody to probe deeper into the financial transactions and international connections involved in the case.
This incident has shed light on an elaborate global fraud operation involving diplomatic impersonation, financial crimes, and ties to known conmen. Authorities believe the case could lead to further revelations as investigations expand across international jurisdictions.