Swami Nithyananda – one of many self-styled Indian “godmen” with thousands of followers and a chequered past — is wanted by police for alleged rape, sexual abuse, and abduction of children.

Earlier this week, he announced online that he has created his own new country – reportedly off Ecuador’s coast – complete with cabinet, golden passports, and even a department of homeland security.

Asked about the guru’s whereabouts on Friday, the foreign ministry said Nithyananda’s passport had been canceled and that India had issued an alert for “all our missions and posts”.

Local governments had also been put on alert, spokesman Raveesh Kumar told reporters in New Delhi, adding: “We have never said he’s in Ecuador.”

Confusion reigns about the location of the new country, known as Kailaasa, which the 41-year-old claimed was the “biggest Hindu nation without boundaries”.

Indian media reports initially said it was off the Ecuadorean coast, but in a rambling YouTube video the holy man said it exists “in the cosmos”.

The Kailaasa website details different government departments and agencies in his make-believe state, offering “free food” and promising a “strong diplomatic network” to work with other countries.