Princess of micronation in Italy suspends Indian ‘Councillor’ amid fake embassy bust in Ghaziabad

In a detailed statement issued Wednesday, Seborga, an unrecognised micronation in Italy’s Liguria province, said Jain had approached them in 2012 and he was appointed “in good faith” to an honorary and symbolic role as Councilor for India. “It was always clearly explained to all Foreign Representatives that such appointments were purely symbolic and representative in nature, and did not confer any official or diplomatic status,” the Principality said.

Jain, however, didn’t stick to the script. Using honorary titles from several micronations, he allegedly projected himself as “a globe-trotting diplomat”.

When The Indian Express had visited the ‘embassy’ running out of a rented flat in Ghaziabad’s Kavi Nagar, a small golden nameplate at the door introduced him as “His Excellency Harsh Vardhan Jain, Royale Consigliere, Principato di Seborga (Royal Advisor to Seborga)”.

On the bungalow’s balcony and roof, fake flags were put up, including one with a white cross on a blue field and another featuring a royal crown and shield. Four cars parked outside bore fabricated diplomatic number plates and titles like “Honorary Consul Baron Westarctica” and “Honorary Consigliere Principato Di Seborga”.

Seborga clarified that even in Italy, the use of its symbolic number plates on vehicles has “no legal validity” and is “tolerated” only if the actual legal registration plate is visible to avoid any confusion.

According to the Principality’s statement, Jain had recommended others for similar voluntary roles, some of whom were appointed by Seborga. But following reports of his arrest and the bust of a fake diplomatic setup in Ghaziabad, Seborga said it had taken immediate action.

“In light of the reports received, the Principality of Seborga has immediately suspended Mr Harsh Vardhan Jain from all positions and firmly distances itself from any potentially unlawful activities he may have carried out, of which the Principality was entirely unaware,” it said.

It added that Princess Nina, the Principality’s royal heiress, has personally reached out to all other Indian representatives of Seborga, all of whom confirmed that they were aware of the micronation’s non-recognised status and have been acting lawfully.

“Mr Jain was required to inform HSH Princess Nina in advance of any of his actions, as stipulated by Article 39 of the General Statutes of the Principality,” the statement said.

According to the STF, Jain allegedly used this carefully crafted setup — which also included “morphed” photographs of him with Prime Ministers and Presidents – to con businessmen and launder money for at least the past two years. He moved his operations from his ancestral home to the rented bungalow in February.

“He used the guise of diplomacy to influence businessmen, promise them access to international markets, and run a hawala network through shell companies,” the STF said in a statement Wednesday.

He had also been projecting himself as the diplomatic representative of fictional countries such as Lodonia and Poulvia.

In its statement, the STF said Jain’s financial operations dated back nearly two decades — he had registered multiple shell companies abroad and maintained at least 11 bank accounts in four countries.

Jain claimed he came in contact with self-styled godman Chandraswami in 2000. He also allegedly partnered with Ehsan Ali Syed, a Hyderabad-based businessman who took Turkish citizenship and is now serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence in Switzerland for defrauding multiple companies by promising large loans and taking brokerage fees in advance.

“In collaboration with Ehsan, Jain formed several shell firms, including State Trading Corporation Limited, East India Company UK Limited, Island General Trading Co LLC (UK), Indira Overseas Limited (Mauritius), and Cameron Ispat SARL (Cameroon),” the STF said.