The talented Mr Lodonia
India is full of fakes. You've probably heard of fake iPhones or copycat designer clothes like Gucci or Prada. Some people even sell fake paintings or pretend to be someone they're not. But one man, Harsh Vardhan Jain, took pretending to a whole new level—he created a fake country!
From a regular rented house in Ghaziabad (just outside Delhi), Jain set up what he called the 'West Arctic Embassy.' That means he was pretending to be an ambassador—a very important person who represents their country in another one. Except the countries he claimed to represent—Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia—don't even exist!
He dressed up fancy, used cool cars with blue number plates (like real diplomats), and handed out fake government documents. And for a while, people actually believed him! Until the UP police's Special Task Force (STF) finally figured it out and stopped him.
Why are people so impressed by him? Because he was clever. Just like the movie characters Danny Ocean or Frank Abagnale, who trick people by using their brains, charm, and deep understanding of human behavior. Jain didn't just cheat people—he made them want to believe him. That's what made him so dangerous—and impressive to some.
On social media, many people are actually cheering for him. They're calling him smart and funny. Some even say, 'Only respect!' They treat his fake country, Lodonia, like it's some magical place—like Narnia from the books!
But while it may sound funny, there's a serious problem too. How did he get away with this for so long? He used fake government papers and fake passports, and no one noticed for a while. That's worrying. It means the systems that are supposed to protect us from fraud are not working well. If the police had taken longer, who knows how many more people he might have fooled?
So yes, Mr. Lodonia was talented. But it's time for the real authorities to be a lot more alert—and for all of us to remember that not everything cool or shiny is real.
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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
UP STF seeks global inputs on fake diplomat
LUCKNOW The UP Special Task Force (STF) has sought global inputs on activities of Harsha Vardhan Jain, who operated the fake embassy of the unrecognised micronation Westarctica in Ghaziabad, senior STF officials confirmed here on Sunday. The STF is seeking information about Harsha Vardhan Jain's activities from over 20 countries. (For Representation) They said a Blue Corner Notice has been issued against Jain, marking the first time such a notice has been used in any case of Uttar Pradesh. Issued by Interpol, the Blue Corner Notice is a tool used to gather additional information about a person of interest in a criminal investigation, the STF officials said. It's not a request for arrest, but rather an alert to member countries to collect details about a person's identity, location or activities abroad related to a crime. The STF is seeking information about Jain's activities from over 20 countries, focusing on his international travel history, business ventures abroad and financial transactions from his foreign bank accounts, an STF official said. He said the STF has applied for Jain's five-day police custody remand (PCR) in a Ghaziabad court to further interrogate him about his activities and connections. He said the local court will decide on his PCR on Monday. Interrogation during Jain's police custody remand is expected to shed more light on the extent of his operations and potential accomplices, he added. He said the travel history could include details of his international travels and stays, business ventures, information about companies registered or operated by him abroad and insights into his bank accounts, transactions, and potential money laundering activities. The STF has already uncovered substantial evidence, including 11 bank accounts linked to Jain in Dubai, Mauritius, UK, and India with suspected hawala transactions, the official said. He said it included six bank accounts in Dubai, three in the UK and one bank account each in Mauritius and India. 'Besides, over a dozen shell companies registered by Jain (were) potentially used for illicit activities. The investigations so far revealed that Jain, along with arms dealer friend Adnan Khwaja and Ahsan Ali Sayed, a UK-based businessman, allegedly registered multiple companies in different countries, including UK-based companies–State Trading Corporation Ltd and East India Company UK Ltd, UAE-based company- Island General Trading Co LLC, Mauritius-based company- Indira Overseas Ltd and Cameroon-based company-Cameron Ispat Sarl,' he said. The STF official said 12 high-end watches, including Rolex and Omega, as well as forged documents, diplomatic passports, and counterfeit stamps bearing the seals of various countries and companies were also recovered during his arrest. The STF's Noida unit arrested Jain who was operating a fake embassy of the unrecognised micronation Westarctica from a rented house in Ghaziabad's Kavinagar on Tuesday (July 22). He was booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The STF is working with local police to obtain his remand for further investigation. The accused allegedly posed as the consul/ambassador of unrecognised and fictitious countries like Westarctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. The accused used diplomatic number plates on his vehicles and morphed photos with prominent figures like the Prime Minister and President to impress people. His main activities included brokering deals for companies and individuals to work abroad and running a hawala racket through shell companies.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Two traders duped of gold rings in separate cases
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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Embassy of West Arctica in Ghaziabad? Police bust fake missions of non-existent nations in Kavi Nagar
Man posed as diplomat, promised foreign job placements Fake passports, seals, and cash recovered in raid Live Events Accused linked to controversial figures, faces earlier charges (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a man from Ghaziabad for operating a fake embassy from a rented house while posing as a diplomat of non-existent countries, including " West Arctica ". The accused, Harsh Vardhan Jain , was taken into custody on Tuesday following a raid by the Noida unit of the to officials, preliminary investigation revealed that Jain falsely claimed to be a consul or ambassador representing fictional micronations like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. He allegedly used his fake identity to broker job placements abroad for companies and STF said Jain had created fake documents and morphed photographs showing him with top Indian dignitaries such as the prime minister and the president to make his claims appear Jain's arrest, the STF seized four vehicles with fake diplomatic number plates, 12 forged diplomatic passports, two fake PAN cards, 34 rubber stamps of different countries and companies, and two fake press agency also recovered Rs 44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency, documents linked to several companies, and 18 more fake diplomatic number plates. Fake seals purportedly from the Ministry of External Affairs were also Director General of Police Amitabh Yash said, 'The accused was running the bogus embassy from a rented house and projected himself as a consul or ambassador of non-existent countries such as West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia, and moved around in vehicles bearing fake diplomatic number plates.'During interrogation, Jain claimed he had links in the past with controversial godman Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Officials added that in 2011, he had been booked in a case involving possession of an illegal satellite phone.A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Kavi Nagar police station. The STF said further proceedings are underway to investigate the full extent of the racket and any additional people or companies involved.
