Fake Embassy Scandal Unveiled in Ghaziabad
A man from Ghaziabad has been arrested for allegedly running a fake embassy from a rented house in Kavi Nagar. The incident came to light when the police launched an investigation into the activities of the accused, who was found to be impersonating a diplomatic official.
According to a senior police officer, the accused, identified as Harshvardhan Jain, claimed to be the consul or ambassador of several micronations such as Westarctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. These are not recognized by any official international body, but the individual used this identity to conduct illegal activities.
The role of a consul or ambassador typically involves representing the interests of their home country and its citizens abroad. They are responsible for tasks like issuing visas, renewing passports, and providing assistance to citizens in foreign countries. Additionally, they work on promoting trade relations between nations.
However, Harshvardhan Jain used his fabricated identity to engage in illicit operations. He was found using diplomatic number plates on his vehicles and manipulating photographs to include prominent figures, including the Prime Minister and the President. His main activities included brokering deals for companies and individuals to work abroad and running a hawala racket through shell companies.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Harshvardhan had previous connections with Chandraswami and Adnan Khagoshi, an international arms dealer. In 2011, he was caught with illegal satellite phones, leading to a case being registered at the Kavi Nagar police station in Ghaziabad.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) Noida unit seized a significant amount of cash and other items during the operation. This included over ₹44 lakh in cash, foreign currency from various countries, four vehicles equipped with diplomatic number plates, 18 diplomatic number plates, 12 diplomatic passports of micronations, forged documents bearing the Ministry of External Affairs seal, two fake PAN cards, 34 seals of different countries and companies, two fake press cards, and documents of various companies.
A case has been registered at the Kavi Nagar police station in Ghaziabad, and legal proceedings are currently underway. Authorities are working to uncover more details about the extent of the fraudulent activities carried out by Harshvardhan Jain.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance and the need for thorough checks to prevent such fraudulent operations. It also underscores the potential risks associated with individuals who misuse their positions to deceive others for personal gain. The police are expected to take further actions to ensure justice is served and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
