Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.
Allahabad High Court: In a bail application filed by a man accused of operating a fake embassy in Ghaziabad, the Single Judge Bench of Ashutosh Srivastava, J., allowed the application, holding that a case for bail was made out and the investigation had concluded.
Background
An FIR was filed against the accused, alleging that he was operating a fake embassy illegally in Kavi Nagar, Ghaziabad, by hoisting flags of various countries and putting diplomatic number plates on vehicles to defraud people. The embassy did not have the permission of the Ministry of External Affairs. The police recovered documents, IDs, seals, number plates, Indian and foreign currencies, and some photographs in the raid. Three passports were also discovered, one Indian, which belonged to the petitioner, and two passports issued by the Principality of Seborga and CD 31-C. There was also a diplomatic passport bearing the forged seal of the Ministry of External Affairs and a Section Officer, the same one who signed the accused’s Indian passport.
Accordingly, the criminal case was lodged against him under Sections 318(4), 319, 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 341(1), Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), and the accused was arrested on 23 July 2025. Aggrieved, he filed a bail application before the trial court, but it was rejected. Hence, the present application.
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The accused contended that his Indian passport was genuine and the six additional passports and diplomatic number plates are mere novelty souvenirs issued by various micronations like the Principality of Seborga, Federal Republic of Lostisland, Westartica, etc. These items are intended for identification and ceremonial purposes within those organisations and were never utilised as official travel credentials or for impersonation as State officials. He further contended that he did not use the CD number plates, but has used the CDI plates (Club Diplomatique International), Souvenir Plates, which were placed below the genuine Indian Registration Numbers.
The accused argued that the 22 registered corporate entities and their seals were legitimate and dormant, with no bank transactions or trade activity precluding any financial impropriety. Any funds received were voluntary, transparent, and utilised strictly for ceremonial functions and cultural exchanges rather than personal gains. The cash recovered during the police raid was legitimately borrowed from relatives to settle a certain civil case. He added that there was no sign or board at his residence claiming it to be an embassy. There was merely a small nameplate identifying him as a “Royal Advisor”.
Analysis
The Court noted that the State could not dispute the fact that the investigation concluded upon submission of the charge-sheet, and further custodial interrogation of the accused was not required.
Considering the facts and circumstances, the nature of accusations, severity of the punishment, nature of supporting evidence, and apprehension of tampering with the witness, the Court held that prima facie a case for bail was made out.
Accordingly, the bail application was allowed on his execution of a personal bond and two reliable sureties each, in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Court concerned.
Read more at:
[Harshvardhan Jain v. State of U.P., Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 41324 of 2025, decided on 2-4-2026]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the applicant: Ashutosh Mishra, Gyanendra Kumar Yadav, Syed Abid Ali Naqvi
For the respondent: Government Advocate Pankaj Saxena
