A man has been arrested for operating a bogus embassy out of a rented house near Delhi, in a shocking case of diplomatic impersonation and international fraud. The suspect, 47-year-old Harshvardhan Jain, was apprehended by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, which uncovered a web of deceit involving forged documents, counterfeit diplomatic paraphernalia, and fake international affiliations.
Jain allegedly posed as an ambassador or adviser to fictitious micro-nations like “Seborga” and “Westarctica,” using his false identity to lure unsuspecting individuals with promises of lucrative overseas jobs. According to senior police official Sushil Ghule, Jain exploited his fake credentials to extract large sums of money from victims.
Authorities recovered several incriminating items from the property, including four cars fitted with fraudulent diplomatic license plates, cash amounting to nearly ₹4.5 million (approximately £38,000), and various foreign currencies. The building, located near the national capital, was decorated with international flags to bolster the illusion of official legitimacy.
In addition to seizing fake seals purporting to be from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and diplomatic insignias from over 30 countries, police also found doctored photographs of Jain posing with prominent global leaders.
Investigators believe Jain may have been involved in laundering money through a network of shell companies set up abroad. He has been charged with forgery, impersonation, possession of counterfeit documents, and potential violations under India’s money laundering laws.
The case has raised concerns over the ease with which official-looking diplomatic setups can be faked, and a wider investigation is underway to determine the full extent of Jain’s activities and identify other possible accomplices.
