Police in India arrested 47-year-old Harshvardhan Jain on 23/7 for allegedly renting a house near New Delhi and transforming it into an embassy for a fictitious country.

Jain decorated the house with flags from various countries and parked cars bearing fake diplomatic license plates outside. For years, he impersonated an advisor or ambassador for nonexistent nations like "Seborga" and "Westarctica", swindling people out of money by promising them jobs abroad.

Harshvardhan Jain and the house he used as a "fake embassy". Photo: India Today

Harshvardhan Jain and the house he used as a "fake embassy". Photo: India Today

Police confiscated photoshopped images of Jain posing with world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also found counterfeit stamps purportedly from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and nearly 30 other countries.

Jain is also suspected of money laundering through shell companies overseas. He is currently facing charges of forgery, impersonation, and possession of forged documents.

Authorities seized 4 cars with fake diplomatic plates, nearly 4.5 million Indian rupees (52,000 USD), and various foreign currencies from the rented house.

Huyen Le (AP, India Today)