Indian Police Arrest Man Running Fake Embassy Near New Delhi

Indian police have arrested Harshvardhan Jain for operating a fake embassy from a rented bungalow in Ghaziabad near New Delhi, where he impersonated an ambassador for unrecognized micronations such as Westarctica, Seborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. Jain used fake diplomatic number plates on luxury vehicles, forged documents including seals of India's Ministry of External Affairs, and morphed photos with prominent figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deceive people. Authorities uncovered that Jain's operation involved illegal activities such as brokering overseas employment deals, running a hawala money laundering network through shell companies, and possessing forged documents and fake passports. Police seized nearly 4.5 million Indian rupees in cash, foreign currencies, four vehicles with diplomatic plates, and various incriminating evidence from his premises. Investigations also revealed Jain's past connections with controversial figures such as international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and self-styled godman Chandraswami. He faces charges including forgery, impersonation, and money laundering as authorities continue to probe the extent of his fraudulent operations.