Micronations are entities that self-declare sovereignty but have no recognition from any official government or international institutions like the United Nations.
In a bizarre case, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a 47-year-old man on Wednesday for running an illegal embassy from a rented residence in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar area. The accused, Harshvardhan Jain, claimed to be an ambassador of unrecognized micronations like Westarctica, Seborga, Ladonia, and even a non-existent nation named Poulvia.
UP Police Additional Director General (Law & Order) Amitabh Yash added that Jain was operating an illegal diplomatic mission from a high-end residential complex, using forged documents and symbols to make others believe that he was legitimate.
Micronations are entities that self-declare sovereignty but have no recognition from any official government or international institutions like the United Nations. India does not recognize such entities or their purported envoys, rendering Jain's actions not only bogus but a grave violation of national protocols.
The police say that Jain was allegedly appointed as an advisor to Seborga, a so-called principality in Italy, in 2012 and was made an honorary consul of Westarctica in 2016. He turned his rented home into an imaginary consulate, flying flags of several micronations and driving luxury cars with imagined diplomatic registration numbers.
Raj Kumar Mishra, Additional Superintendent of Police (Noida STF), said Jain admitted to operating the sham embassy to cheat businessmen and enable hawala transactions.
"While questioning Jain on his activities, like cars, other nations' flags, and registration numbers of diplomats, and being asked to show proof, he admitted that he was operating a false embassy to cheat businessmen and run a hawala racket," informed Mishra.
He said Jain had been operating this bogus scheme since 2016. Five months ago, Jain shifted with his family to a posh rented house for ₹1.8 lakh per month, while his father stayed on at their old residence.
As per the First Information Report (FIR) registered by STF Sub-Inspector Sachin Kumar, police were receiving frequent tips regarding the suspicious embassy in Kavi Nagar. Jain's usage of VIP diplomatic car plates and foreign flags raised suspicions.
During the time central authorities were informed to verify the authenticity, it was assured that no embassy can operate without authorization from the Ministry of External Affairs of India, and it is against the sovereignty of India," FIR said.
Jain has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody after his arrest.
