Ghaziabad fake embassy: UP Police takes custody of accused, focus on op he ran under guise of diplomatic missions

The police had requested remand of Harshvardhan jain in the fake embassy case. The proceedings are going to be videographed and its case diary will be presented in court.

According to police sources, the remand was sought to question Jain about several bank accounts, 25 shell companies, and his network of frequent foreign tours, all of which are now under the scanner for alleged links to a larger hawala racket.

“The remand states that Harshvardhan Jain will be in STF custody for five days. During questioning, we will examine electronic devices seized from the premises, including a diary in which Jain has documented the names, bank account details, and mobile numbers of several individuals,” said a senior officer privy to the investigation.

The recent raid on Jain’s bungalow in Kavi Nagar revealed a sophisticated front with flags, letterheads, and seals of multiple micronations that he had been using to claim importance and legitimacy under a false diplomatic status. He had allegedly been using these symbols to forge legitimacy and operate a fake embassy and earn money by promising people international jobs and contacts.

Earlier, the Special Task Force had uncovered that in the early 2000s, Jain had reportedly come in contact with self proclaimed controversial godman Chandraswami, who had then introduced him to arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and Ehsan Ali Syed — another con who was posing as a businessman and is now convicted for fraud in Switzerland. With their help, Jain is said to have established more than a dozen companies in Dubai, London, and Mauritius, many of them shell firms used to collect “brokerage” for jobs and promises of huge loans before duping them.

While Jain’s lawyer maintained that the police action is based on false pretences, police sources said, they also said that several new names might emerge as the hawala and the network of his false companies is traced further. The diary and devices seized from the house are expected to be central to the probe, sources said.

The case against Jain had been registered under relevant sections for cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.