The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted a fake diplomatic operation run from here, and arrested a man for allegedly operating the same under the guise of representing several unrecognized micro nations, police said on Wednesday.
According to police, the accused, Harsh Vardhan Jain, a resident of KB-45, Kavi Nagar, Ghaziabad, had rented a property at KB-35 in the same locality, and converted it into what he claimed to be the ‘West Arctic Embassy’.
Posing as the Consul or Ambassador of fictitious entities like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, Lodonia, and others, he used forged diplomatic credentials to conduct activities ranging from brokerage for foreign deals to operating a suspected hawala racket through shell companies.
“Jain traveled in luxury vehicles bearing fake diplomatic number plates, and used morphed photographs with the Prime Minister, President, and other top dignitaries to lend credibility to his claims,” ADG STF Amitabh Yash said.
Authorities also suspect he lured clients by promising international business opportunities and influence through his so-called “embassy network”.
During the raid, STF recovered four vehicles with diplomatic number plates, 18 forged diplomatic number plates, 12 fake diplomatic passports issued by unrecognized micro nations, forged documents bearing seals of the Ministry of External Affairs, two fake PAN cards, 34 counterfeit seals of various countries and companies, two forged press cards and Rs 44.7 lakh in cash.
The ADG said Jain has a history of questionable dealings. He was previously found in possession of an illegal satellite phone in 2011, a case that was registered at the Kavi Nagar police station. He also reportedly had past associations with controversial godman Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khagoshi.
A formal case has been lodged at the Kavi Nagar Police Station in Ghaziabad. Authorities are investigating the extent of Jain’s operations, his network of associates, and possible links to financial and security-related crimes.
Further legal proceedings are underway.