UP Police busts fake embassy in Ghaziabad, arrests suspected scammer
The Uttar Pradesh Police have busted a fake embassy in Ghaziabad and arrested a 45-year-old man, identified as Harshvardhan Jain, for allegedly acting as the “ambassador” of Westarctica, an unrecognised micronation in Antarctica.
Jain was running the scam from a two-storey house in Kavi Nagar.
According to the Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF), the man allegedly conned people by using forged Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) documents and making promises of international deals.
Officers of the STF have recovered the cars with diplomatic number plates, 'diplomatic passports' of 12 micronations, documents bearing the stamps of the External Affairs Ministry, stamps from 34 nations, Rs. 44 lakh in cash, foreign currency, 18 diplomatic number plates, and a luxury watch collection.
To carry out his illegal activities, Jain rented the property, which he made into a 'consulate' in Ghaziabad.
These premises had the flags of India and Westarctica, a micronation in Antarctica not recognised by any sovereign state in the world.
Outside this plush property luxury cars, including an Audi and a Mercedes, with diplomatic number plates were parked. Jain's office had morphed photographs in which he is seen with Prime Ministers and Presidents.
According to investigators, Jain would use this front for networking and then lure people with jobs abroad.
This fake embassy had been running since 2017, the probe reveals.
Jain would organise charity events, including bhandaras (community feast), outside the 'embassy' to keep up the show.
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