STF SSP Sushil Ghule said that Harshvardhan used morphed photographs with top leaders, including the Prime Minister and the President, to impress and mislead people. “His main business was cheating people and companies by promising them jobs and work opportunities abroad.

He also operated hawala transactions through shell companies,” the SSP said. “During interrogation, Harshvardhan claimed he was 47 years old, had done an MBA from London. His father owned a rolling mill and marble mines in Rajasthan. In 2000, he said he met controversial godman Chandraswami, who introduced him to arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

Through these contacts, he began setting up companies abroad, mainly in London and Dubai, which he used for illegal brokerage work,” added Ghule. In 2011, he was caught with a satellite phone in Ghaziabad, which led to questioning by central agencies. Although he was not found guilty of any anti-national activity, a case was filed against him.

He later claimed to have been appointed as an honorary ambassador by fake or micronation countries and used those titles for fraud. This fake embassy operated in one of the most secure areas in Ghaziabad, near the homes of senior officials, making the case even more alarming. Investigations are ongoing.