Latest news with #HarshVardhanJain
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Cops suspect Gzb conman to be linked with arms dealers
Accused Harsh Vardhan Jain became infamous overnight in Ghaziabad, after the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP-STF) busted his international racket around 11.30pm on Tuesday and found he had morphed photographs showing him alongside popular leaders and politicians. Police said Jain, the accused, had morphed photos showing him standing alongside the late President of India APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others. (HT Photo) Police said Harsh Vardhan Jain was connected to self-styled godman Chandraswami and Saudi businessman and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. 'After completing his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Ghaziabad, Jain moved to London in 1999 to study for an MBA. Later, in 2000, he came in contact with self-styled godman Chandraswami, who introduced him to arms dealer Khashoggi and London-based Indian businessman Ehsan Ali Syed,' said UP-STF additional superintendent of police Raj Kumar Mishra. Mishra added, 'In coordination with Syed, he registered multiple companies there to use them in the mediation business.' After six years, in 2006, he moved to Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates and stayed with a cousin. Later, he registered more companies with a Hyderabad-based man, Shafiq, and Ibrahim Ali-bin to earn commissions on job employment in foreign countries. He also travelled to many countries in the Gulf and Africa to expand his mediation work, police said. In 2011, he moved back to India, and in 2012, a satellite phone was recovered from his possession. A case was also registered at that time at Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar police station. 'We are investigating his involvement in arms dealing as he was in contact with Khashoggi,' said ASP Mishra. Police said that as Jain established a strong foothold in foreign countries, he was appointed as an advisor to Seborga, Westarctica, Paulovia and Ladonia. Police said he had morphed photos showing him standing alongside the late President of India APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others. 'It was revealed that photos with the president and prime minister were fake, but all other photos with Chandraswami and Khashoggi were genuine,' ASP Mishra said. Investigation revealed that Jain's father, JB Jain, is also an influential person, who owns Jain Rolling Mills in Ghaziabad and marble mines in Rajasthan. Harsh Vardhan Jain worked in these mines and was involved in exporting marble to London initially. Jain's family refused comment during HT's visit. People close to his home said Jain's father was a government officer and their family owned many businesses. 'We don't know why Jain shifted with his family to a rented home, but his father stayed back,' said a neighbour. Anand Yadav, who was standing close to his bungalow, said, 'We (residents) didn't know that this was a fake embassy until the police busted it. It was a shock for us that an international racket was operating from Kavi Nagar.' Residents said that people in the locality were curious to know how he managed a luxurious life without getting caught for so long.
India.com
2 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Ghaziabad's Fake Embassy Mastermind Busted: Meet Harsh Vardhan Jain, The Man Behind A Phantom Diplomatic Empire
Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh): The house at KB-45 in the middle of a residential lane in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar looked like just another villa in the neighbourhood. But behind its closed gates, a bizarre and elaborate charade was playing out. A fake embassy, complete with flags, diplomatic insignia and even morphed photographs of the prime minister and former presidents, had been operating under the nose of the authorities. On July 22 night, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) raided the property and arrested one Harsh Vardhan Jain, the man behind the entire set-up. He was not only playing dress-up. Inside that rented house, he had created a world of lies stitched together with forged stamps, fake passports and piles of cash. He called himself an 'Ambassador' to four obscure or fictitious nations, West Antarctica, Saborga, Paulovia and Ladonia. Two of them do not even exist on any official map. The others are micronations with no formal recognition. And yet, for those who entered his circle, Harsh Vardhan sold a dream of foreign jobs, overseas businesses and lavish international access. Photos found in the house hint at a past riddled with shadows. His wall displayed images of himself with Chandraswami, the late controversial godman with known political links, and Adnan Khashoggi, the infamous international arms dealer. Whether those associations were real or part of the act, the police are still investigating. But what the STF did confirm is startling – four luxury cars with diplomatic number plates, 12 fake diplomatic passports, fake documents branded with the Indian foreign ministry's forged seals, fake press cards, two PAN cards under different names, stamps from 34 companies and countries, currency from multiple nations, 18 false number plates and Rs 44 lakh in cash stacked inside the premises. It does not end there. The STF says Harsh Vardhan also ran shell companies, which they believe were used for hawala transactions that are an informal and often illegal system of money transfer. Those who came into contact with him were lured in by a promise of influence and connections, only to be caught in a labyrinth of lies. This was not his first brush with the law. Back in 2011, he was booked for illegally possessing a satellite phone, something typically restricted to military or government use. That case too had emerged from Kavi Nagar, the very area where his latest plot unravelled. The STF's Noida unit conducted the raid, acting on a tip-off. It is a case of diplomatic fantasy, engineered with stunning precision and executed just a few kilometres from the national capital. Officials say the case raises troubling questions. How long had this fake embassy been functioning? How many people fell into his trap? And just how many documents in circulation today bear the fingerprints of Harsh Vardhan's forgery empire? As investigators dig deeper, one thing is certain that this was no small con. This was a parallel world of power, illusion and deception, all built within the walls of a quiet home in Ghaziabad.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The talented Mr Lodonia
What a pretend embassy in a pretend country tells us about the real problems in India. 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. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
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First Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Ghaziabad fake embassy scandal: Westarctica and the world of micronations
A 45-year-old man in Ghaziabad was pulling off a unique scam by pretending to be the 'ambassador' of Westarctica, an unrecognised micronation in Antarctica. A raid by the Uttar Pradesh Police at the house he claimed was the official embassy busted his con. The case has put the spotlight on micronations. What are they? read more A man has been arrested in Ghaziabad for running a fake embassy and conning people. News18 The Uttar Pradesh Police have busted a fake embassy in Ghaziabad. A 45-year-old man, identified as Harsh Vardhan Jain, was allegedly running a scam from a two-storey house in Kavi Nagar, claiming to be the 'ambassador' of Westarctica, an unrecognised micronation in Antarctica. According to the Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (STF), the man conned people using forged Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) documents and promises of international deals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While his embassy was not real, Westarctica is. The incident has brought micronations to the limelight. But what are these? We will explain. What are micronations? Micronations are 'wannabe' states whose representatives claim to belong to an independent nation or sovereign state. However, these political entities are neither recognised by any sovereign state nor under international law. The 'rulers' or founders of these micronations are motivated by philosophical experiment, political protest, entertainment or artistic expression, and sometimes by criminal activity. A lack of legal basis has, however, not stopped these micronations from creating their own coins, postage stamps, national anthems, flags and even passports. Dozens of micronations have emerged since the 1960s. American writer Leicester Hemingway founded New Atlantis in 1964 by constructing a bamboo raft with steel, iron piping, and rock, six miles off the coast of Jamaica. He claimed it was an island with full sovereignty. The raft was ultimately destroyed by a cyclone. There are micronations that still exist, such as the Principality of Sealand. It is an offshore platform in the North Sea used by the British military during World War II. Paddy Roy Bates, a former soldier, took up HM Fort Roughs in 1967 and later declared its independence. He later named it the Principality of Sealand, with its own flag, money, national anthem, stamps and football team. Australia has many micronations, with its first being the Principality of Hutt River founded in 1970. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Republic of Lamb is an island off the coast of Scotland purchased by popular spoon bender and legendary 'psychic' Uri Geller. He offers citizenship, with all proceeds going to Save a Child's Heart, an Israeli charity which treats children with heart conditions globally. In a picture taken on May 27, 2010 Emperor George II of Atlantium, a micronation, displays the 25 imperial solidi note featuring a portrait of himself (top) in Sydney. File Photo/AFP Another micronation is the Republic of Minerva, an artificial island built over disputed coral reefs between the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga. The Royal Republic of Ladonia was created in 1986 by artist Lars Vilks to protest local authorities in southern Sweden's Kullaberg, who deemed the two large sculptures he built in an inaccessible nature reserve illegal. Ladonia, which is ruled by Queen Carolyn, promotes freedom of expression, art and creativity. Kailasa, the so-called country founded by self-styled godman Nithyananda, who is wanted in India for rape and abduction, is also a micronation. Nithyananda purchased an island off the coast of Ecuador, which he claims as 'Kailasa', as per BBC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How serious are micronations? The creators or founders of these mock nations know these entities are not 'real'. But they still have fun and sometimes use the opportunity to protest. 'They are very serious about this. Pretending to be a king or a president takes a lot of effort. I think the psychological strength you need to do this constantly when no one recognises you must be quite difficult. But generally speaking, it is for fun. A lot of them also do it as a way to build a community,' Harry Hobbs, co-author of How to Rule Your Own Country: The Weird and Wonderful World of Micronations, told Forbes in 2023. He added: 'I think the best ones are really designed for a clear political purpose. There's the famous Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands. They seceded from Australia to protest legislation banning same-sex marriage and formed a gay and lesbian kingdom. They sailed to an island in the Great Barrier Reef, planted a flag, and set up a country.' However, pretending to rule a sovereign state is not fun when reality hits. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2002, Vilks received applications from migrants and refugees from across the globe for citizenship, believing Ladonia to be a real country. The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands also got letters from queer people in other country who needed asylum. Ghaziabad man's con as 'ambassador' of many micronations The UP STF has arrested Harsh Vardhan Jain after a raid for running a fake embassy in Ghaziabad. The man converted a house in Kavi Nagar, surrounding it with high-end cars, and claimed it to be the official embassy of Westarctica. The Grand Duchy of Westarctica is a 620,000-square-mile tract of land in western Antarctica. It has its 'royal head of state' — the Grand Duke Travis, a flag, currency, and over 2,500 'citizens'. 'Jain claimed to be the consul or ambassador of Westarctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Ladonia — none of which are recognised as sovereign nations," SSP Sushil Ghule, who led the STF raid, told the media. 'He used diplomatic insignias and paraphernalia to create an illusion of official legitimacy," he added. UP Police busts fake '#Westarctica' #embassy in Ghaziabad! A man posing as a diplomat arrested in a bizarre international scam@_anshuls brings you the ground report#Ghaziabad | @Poonam_Burde — News18 (@CNNnews18) July 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jain morphed photographs of himself with world leaders, including prime ministers and presidents, and used credentials with forged seals of the MEA. 'He used the guise of diplomacy to influence businessmen, promise them access to international markets, and run a hawala network through shell companies,' the UP police said in its statement. The fake embassy helped Jain scam people seeking foreign investment or work permits, as per the police. Jain is alleged to have pocketed large sums from private individuals and companies, promising them special diplomatic permissions or international licenses. The UP STF seized Rs 44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency from several countries, and four high-end luxury vehicles, all bearing fake diplomatic number plates. Forged diplomatic passports and MEA seals were also recovered. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Fake stamps, currency, diplomatic license plates: How a man ran fake embassy for 'West Arctica' from Ghaziabad
NEW DELHI: A man running a fake embassy out of a rented house in has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF). The accused, Harsh Vardhan Jain, was pretending to be a diplomat from a made-up country called "West Arctica," a senior official said on Wednesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jain, a resident of Kavi Nagar in Ghaziabad, was caught on Tuesday. According to the preliminary investigation by STF's Noida unit, he was tricking people and companies by promising them job placements in foreign countries. He is also suspected of being involved in a hawala racket through fake shell companies. To make himself look genuine, Jain used digitally edited photos of himself with top Indian leaders like the prime minister and the president. This helped him gain people's trust. "Following the standard operating procedure, the pilots informed the authorities and returned the aircraft to bay," the airline added. Additional 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." Jain even used cars with fake diplomatic number plates to appear more authentic. During questioning, it was revealed that he had connections in the past with controversial godman Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. He was earlier booked in 2011 for illegally possessing a satellite phone. The STF found and seized: Four vehicles with fake diplomatic number plates 12 forged diplomatic passports from the fake micronations Fake documents with the ministry of external affair's seal Two fake PAN cards 34 rubber stamps of different countries and organizations Two fake press cards Rs 44.7 lakh in cash Foreign currency Papers linked to shell companies 18 fake diplomatic plates An FIR has been registered at the Kavi Nagar police station. Officials said more investigation is going on to uncover the full scale of the scam.
