Who Is Harshvardhan Jain? 'Baron' Of Fake Westarctica Embassy Busted Near Delhi With Diplomatic Cars & Passports

New Delhi: In a dramatic bust, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) uncovered a fake embassy operating out of a lavish two-storeyed building in Ghaziabad, allegedly run by Harshvardhan Jain.

The so-called 'Baron' of the unrecognised micronation of Westarctica, Jain reportedly fledged diplomatic front, complete with high-end vehicles bearing fake diplomatic plates, counterfeit foreign passports, and even morphed photos with world leaders.

According to a report by NDTV, Jain used the fake identity to operate a suspected international job racket and money laundering network.

Fake Embassy Busted:
Harshvardhan Jain hasbeen arrested for posing as ambassador of Micronation Westarctica, with fake stamps, number plates in Ghaziabad, UTTAR PRADESH. pic.twitter.com/CuWwb4oTRO

— Subcontinental Defender 🛃 (@Anti_Separatist) July 23, 2025

Who is Harshvardhan Jain?

Harshvardhan Jain posed as a ‘Baron’ representing Westarctica, a self-proclaimed micronation in Antarctica founded by a US Navy officer. While the nation itself is not recognised by any government, Jain allegedly used its branding and titles to build legitimacy in elite social circles.

In Ghaziabad, Jain rented a luxurious property and operated it as Westarctica’s “Consulate-General in New Delhi”. The official Instagram handle of Westarctica even featured it days before the bust, claiming that “Baron HV Jain” had been running the consulate since 2017 and regularly conducted charity events.

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This, however, was only the tip of the iceberg. STF officers said Jain used forged documents bearing the Ministry of External Affairs' seal, stamps of 34 countries, and 12 different ‘diplomatic passports’ linked to various unrecognised micronations. A case had already been registered against him in 2011 for possessing an illegal satellite phone.

What Did the Investigation Reveal?

The STF’s raid unearthed a web of deception. Four luxury cars with diplomatic number plates were seized along with 18 such plates, Rs 44 lakh in cash, foreign currency, fake documents and stamps, all used to sustain the illusion of an official diplomatic mission.

Jain also allegedly flaunted doctored images of himself with the President, Prime Minister, and other dignitaries to build credibility and influence. Authorities are now probing deeper into the scale of the job fraud and potential overseas links, while Jain remains in custody.

The fake embassy of Westarctica, though now dismantled, has sparked concern over the growing misuse of diplomatic facades in India.