Indian authorities have apprehended a 47-year-old man, Harshvardhan Jain, accused of running a fraudulent embassy from a rented residential building in Ghaziabad, near New Delhi. The suspect allegedly posed as an ambassador or adviser to fictitious entities like “Seborga” and “Westarctica,” deceiving individuals with promises of overseas employment in exchange for money.
The Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force, led by senior officer Sushil Ghule, seized four luxury cars with fake diplomatic plates, doctored photographs of Jain with global leaders, and forged seals of India’s foreign ministry and nearly three dozen countries. Authorities also recovered approximately 4.5 million Indian rupees (about $52,000) in cash, along with other foreign currencies, from the premises adorned with international flags. Jain faces charges of forgery, impersonation, and money laundering through overseas shell companies.
The scam has raised concerns about vulnerabilities in detecting fraudulent operations. Neither Jain nor his legal representatives have issued a statement. Southasiandesk.com will continue to follow updates on this case.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 25th, 2025
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