Mumbai: The Vanuatu government has landed a big blow against former IPL (Indian Premier League) commissioner Lalit Modi by stripping him of his citizenship and cancelling his passport. This follows a decision made by Prime Minister Jotham Napat after international media reports of Modi high-tailing to Vanuatu to escape extradition.
Lalit Modi, a businessman who is wanted in India for alleged financial irregularities, had a couple of days ago filed a request with the Indian High Commission in London to relinquish his Indian passport after having obtained Vanuatu citizenship (comprising a number of islands in the South Pacific Ocean).
Recent Related News at WION: It was on Monday that Modi took to Twitter to announce his new Vanuatuan citizenship and even shared images of his passport. – Lalit Modi, who is wanted in India for alleged financial irregularities, had a couple of days ago filed a request with the Indian High Commission in London to relinquish his Indian passport after having obtained Vanuatu citizenship (comprising a number of islands in the South Pacific Ocean). Vanuatu’s government has since begun the process of revoking his passport on the basis that Modi’s trações are from being extradited—not a valid basis for citizenship, they argued.
At first, Modi’s application was in order and was processed because Interpol had not issued any alerts against him even after a request from India’s Red Corner notice request. However, the media recently exposed Modi’s plans, leading to the revocation of his citizenship.
Former IPL boss Lalit Modi left India in 2010 after corruption charges were laid against him, involving a controversial television rights deal of ₹425 crore with World Sports Group. He has lived in London ever since and has avoided seeing the law of India.
On March 7, 2024, Modi submitted the application to renounce his Indian citizenship at the Indian High Commission in London. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said that even if Modi gets a Vanuatu passport, he will be continuing to face legal action in India.
Lalit Modi is the head of Modi Enterprises, a diversified business house in India with interests in agriculture, tobacco, entertainment, and more; he is also a cricket administrator. His net worth is said to be approximately ₹4,500 crore, with a number of luxury possessions, including multiple homes and Ferrari vehicles.