The ‘ambassador’ of Westarctica was arrested by the Noida Police this week for running an elaborate scam from a residential building in Ghaziabad. Officials said Harsh Vardhan Jain — also known as the Consul or Ambassador of Saborga, Poulvia, Lodonia— had arranged fake passports, forged MEA documents, and even created fake currencies to perpetuate the scam. The police also confiscated vehicles with diplomatic number plates and a dozen diplomatic passports of non-existent countries.
“Noida unit of UP STF busted an illegal embassy running in Ghaziabad and arrested Harsh Vardhan Jain, who was running an illegal West Arctic Embassy by taking a rented house in Kavinagar calling himself Consul/Ambassador of countries like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, Lodonia and travels in vehicles with diplomatic number plates.” The ADG further stated that documents of many companies have been recovered,” the ADG told ANI.
Westarctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia
According to reports, the 45-year-old had rented a house in the Kavi Nagar area of the city to open the “official embassy of Wastarctica”. Jain claimed that it was an unrecognised micronation in Antarctica as he built an elaborate con around forged documents, fake embassies and promises of international deals. He also presented himself as the representative of two other non-existent micronations — Seborga and Lodonia — as well as the fictional country of Poulvia.
Officials and locals would see him travelling in vehicles with diplomatic number plates and promising opportunities to businessmen. SSP STF Sushil Ghule said Jain had also used morphed photographs with well-known dignitaries to establish his identity as a powerful global player. He was ‘photographed’ posing with Prime Minister and Presidents, and his credentials were ‘stamped’ by the Ministry of External Affairs.
“He used to make fake promises to provide jobs abroad. Through shell companies he used to run Hawala racket,” Ghule told ANI.
12 diplomatic passports, forged documents, 34 seals of different countries…
Multiple fake stamps, passports, diplomatic registration plates, cash- both foreign and domestic have been recovered in the raid.
“Four vehicles with diplomatic number plates. 12 diplomatic passports of micronation countries. Forged documents with the seal of Ministry of External Affairs. Two forged PAN cards. 34 seals of different countries and companies. 2 forged press cards. Rs 44,70,000 in cash. Foreign currency of many countries. Documents of many companies have been recovered,” the ADG Law and Order added stated.
(With inputs from agencies)