‘Nation Of Westarctica’: Fake Embassy Busted In Ghaziabad. Luxury Cars, Forged IDs Recovered

In a case straight out of a spy thriller, Uttar Pradesh’s Special Task Force (STF) has uncovered a fully functioning fake embassy in Ghaziabad, complete with high-end cars flaunting diplomatic number plates, counterfeit passports, and forged documents allegedly linked to the Ministry of External Affairs and multiple foreign nations.

The man at the centre of the elaborate charade is Harshvardhan Jain, who allegedly posed as the ‘Baron’ of Westarctica, a self-declared micronation in Antarctica, and ran the fake embassy from a rented double-storeyed mansion. According to STF officials, Jain used his fake diplomatic status to run an international job racket and was also allegedly involved in money laundering via shell companies.

Jain reportedly mingled with elite circles, introducing himself as an ambassador of various unrecognised micronations. His tools of deception included morphed photographs with India’s top leaders, including the President and Prime Minister, to lend credibility to his persona. Authorities say this con was years in the making, as Jain had a case registered against him tracing back to 2011 for illegally possessing a satellite phone.

Beat this!

UP STF has busted a fake embassy being run from a swanky house in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The arrested suspect Harshvardhan Jain used to portray himself as ambassador of nations like West Arctica, Sabroga, Poulvia and Lodonia. Multiple fake stamps, passports,… pic.twitter.com/Pw8bDxOjCy

— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) July 23, 2025

Forged Documents, Foreign Currency Recovered

The bust, carried out on Tuesday by the STF’s Noida unit, uncovered a stunning collection of fabricated diplomatic paraphernalia. Officers recovered four luxury vehicles with fake diplomatic number plates, ‘diplomatic passports’ from 12 different micronations, and stamps from 34 countries.

Forged documents bearing the insignia of the Ministry of External Affairs, Rs 44 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and 18 diplomatic number plates have also been recovered.

“Harshvardhan introduced himself as an ambassador of Westarctica and other micronations as a networking tactic,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Sushil Ghule. “He used high-end vehicles and morphed photos with dignitaries to bolster his false identity. The fake diplomatic cover allowed him to run a job racket under the promise of foreign employment, and a hawala racket through shell firms. We’ve registered a case for forging documents and running this fraudulent operation,” Ghule added.

What Is Westarctica?

Founded in 2001 by Travis McHenry, a former officer in the US Navy, Westarctica claims a vast 620,000-square-mile territory in Antarctica. McHenry declared himself ‘Grand Duke’ by exploiting a legal loophole in the Antarctic Treaty, which prevents countries — but not private individuals — from claiming land. Despite its claims, Westarctica is not recognised by any government. It reportedly has 2,356 citizens, none of whom reside in the territory.

Operating as a non-profit based in Southern California, Westarctica promotes awareness about climate change and Antarctic conservation. The group has its flag, currency, and nobility titles — all symbolic and unrecognised by international law.

Interestingly, just days before the fake embassy’s exposure, Westarctica’s official Instagram account shared images of what it called its “Consulate-General in New Delhi.” The post, which included photos of the plush Ghaziabad property and a community meal event (‘bhandara’), claimed that the consulate had been “operational since 2017” and managed by “Baron HV Jain.”