In a shocking crackdown, the Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) has arrested Harshvardhan Jain for running fake embassies of imaginary countries from a rented house in Ghaziabad's Kavinagar area. He allegedly posed as an ambassador and ran an elaborate scam involving hawala transactions, fake diplomatic credentials, and fraudulent job promises abroad.
Embassies of Non-Existent CountriesHarshvardhan had fabricated diplomatic entities representing fictional countries like West Arctic, Saborga, Paulvia, and Lodonia. He operated from house number KB-35, Kavinagar, styling it as an "embassy" and using diplomatic number plates on his vehicles. To appear credible, he used morphed photographs with the Prime Minister, President, and other dignitaries.
Massive Fraud and Hawala OperationsAccording to STF Chief Amitabh Yash, Jain’s operations included:
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Brokerage for jobs and business visas abroad
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Running a hawala racket using shell companies
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Forging documents, ID proofs, and diplomatic credentials
He was also previously found in possession of an illegal satellite phone in 2011, and has alleged connections with notorious personalities like Tantrik Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khagoshi.
Items Recovered from the Fake EmbassyThe STF raid uncovered a massive haul of incriminating material:
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4 vehicles with fake diplomatic number plates
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12 “diplomatic passports” of fictional countries
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Fake PAN and press cards
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Forged documents with Ministry of External Affairs seals
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34 stamps of different foreign entities and firms
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18 fake diplomatic number plates
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Documents of shell companies
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Rs 44.7 lakh in cash, along with foreign currency
Officials state that Jain's activities endangered national security, as he issued forged diplomatic identities and facilitated illegal money transfers. The network also duped job seekers and business aspirants under the false pretense of international opportunities.
Legal Action and Ongoing InvestigationA case has been registered at Kavinagar police station under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) for cheating, forgery, impersonation, and compromising national security.
The STF is now investigating his broader network, including possible international links and other accomplices. Authorities believe this could be part of a larger transnational fraud ring and have not ruled out connections with foreign operatives.
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