Syed Mustapha who claimed to be an Afghan prince, London
1955 - Scotland Yard Calls off investigation into the Affair of the Afghan Prince'. Scotland Yard has called off the investigation into the Afghan Prince Affair. For eight months 26 year old Syed Hassan Osman Mustapha, a Pakistan born student, has posed as a Prince. He was entertained as guest of honour by a Junior Rotary Club. He took General Sir Rob Lockhart, Deputy Chief Scout to Lunch. Syed explained last night that it all started when he came from Pakistan as a Student - at the Rover Scout Group they were holding a knighthood ceremony - when he said he was an Afghan Prince. It was a silly joke but everyone believed it. He decided to carry on with the hoax and everybody fell for it until the Afghan Embassy wrote asking from which branch of the former Royal family he came. Photo shows Syed Mustapha the Afghan Prince centre of the hoax
