Man arrested in India for operating fake embassy

Indian police have arrested a man accused of running a fake embassy out of a rented residential property near the capital, New Delhi. The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Harshvardhan Jain, allegedly posed as an ambassador and defrauded individuals by promising overseas job placements.

According to Sushil Ghule, a senior officer with Uttar Pradesh’s Special Task Force, Jain claimed to represent obscure entities such as "Seborga" and "Westarctica" — micronations with no official diplomatic status. He reportedly presented himself as an ambassador or adviser to these entities, Caliber.Az reporta via CNN.

During a raid, authorities recovered four vehicles with counterfeit diplomatic license plates, doctored images of Jain with international leaders, and forged seals purporting to be from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and nearly three dozen foreign countries.

The police also seized approximately 4.5 million Indian rupees (around $52,000 USD) in cash, along with foreign currency. Jain's rented premises, which were decorated with international flags, served as the base for the fraudulent operation.

Officials believe Jain may also be involved in illegal money laundering via foreign shell companies. He faces multiple charges, including forgery, impersonation, and possession of false documents.

By Sabina Mammadli