Cops bust fake embassy being run from rented Ghaziabad house, arrest 'Westarctica's Baron'

The accused mainly worked as a broker, helping companies and individuals find jobs abroad, while secretly running the hawala racket.

A Ghaziabad resident was found operating an illegal "embassy" out of a rented house in Kavi Nagar area, according to reports.

The Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) reportedly said the accused falsely claimed to be the Consul or Ambassador for some micronations.

According to Times Now,  Harsha Vardhan Jain had been using his fake position to run a hawala racket (illegal money transfers) through shell companies. The accused convinced people that he was an ambassador to countries such as West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. Using his so-called image as a so-called diplomat, Vardhan offered jobs in foreign lands.

He is also suspected to be involved in running a hawala racket through shell companies, the agency said, adding the accused used morphed photos showing him with the prime minister, the president, and other dignitaries to mislead people, according to PTI.

Jain was engaged in brokering deals by falsely promising job placements for companies and individuals in foreign countries.  According to him, Jain would allegedly introduce himself as Westarctica's "Baron" and travel in high-end cars with diplomatic number plates.

The accused reportedly used morphed photos showing him with the prime minister, the president, and other dignitaries to mislead people.

Following his arrest on Tuesday, four vehicles bearing fake diplomatic number plates, 12 forged diplomatic passports of the so-called micronations, fake documents stamped with the seal of the Ministry of External Affairs, two forged PAN cards, 34 rubber stamps of various countries and companies and two fake press cards have been seized.

Interrogation revealed that the accused had associations with controversial godman Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi in the past. In 2011, Jain was booked in a case related to the recovery of an illegal satellite phone.

The STF also recovered Rs 44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency, documents related to multiple companies, and 18 fake diplomatic number plates. An FIR has been lodged at Kavi Nagar police station, and further proceedings are underway, the agency said.