Man poses as 'West Arctica' ambassador, runs fake embassy from rented bungalow in Ghaziabad

Special Task Force has uncovered a fake embassy operating from a rented bungalow in Ghaziabad’s Kavi Nagar.

The accused, Harsh Vardhan Jain, who posed as an ambassador for fictional micronations like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia and Lodonia, was arrested on Tuesday.

Jain used luxury cars with fake diplomatic plates and morphed photos with world leaders to appear legitimate.

He allegedly duped people by offering fake business deals and jobs abroad, and also ran a suspected hawala network.

Following his arrest, four vehicles bearing fake diplomatic number plates, 12 forged diplomatic passports of the so-called micronations, fake documents stamped with the seal of the Ministry of External Affairs, two forged PAN cards, 34 rubber stamps of various countries and companies and two fake press cards have been seized.

Police say Jain may have ties to notorious figures like godman Chandraswami and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

Additional Director General of Police Amitabh Yash told PTI that 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.

An FIR has been lodged at Kavi Nagar police station, and further proceedings are under way.