Scammer held for running a fake embassy near Delhi

Jain converted his bungalow into a 'embassy' for imaginary micronations. He also falsely claimed to represent other such fictional entities, including West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia

- Associated Press

In a startling revelation, the Noida Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday said that it uncovered a fake embassy being operated out of a rented bungalow in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar area of Uttar Pradesh.

Parked outside the premises were several high-end vehicles fitted with fake diplomatic number plates, which were used to lend an air of legitimacy to the illegal setup.

The alleged kingpin behind the operation, Harshvardhan Jain, was arrested at the spot, officials confirmed.

As per preliminary findings, Jain had converted the bungalow into a so-called 'embassy' for imaginary or self-declared micronations. He also falsely claimed to represent other such fictional entities, including West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia.

Authorities revealed that Jain posed as an ambassador of these so-called nations and used a range of tactics to deceive people. He used fake diplomatic number plates and other forged documents to build a show of authenticity.

According to officers, his operation involved extensive use of deception, including the display of luxury cars and morphed photographs with global dignitaries such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and some international leaders.