In a decisive move, Vanuatu's Prime Minister has revoked citizenship for Lalit Modi, former IPL head wanted for corruption, amid ongoing international legal scrutiny.
Vanuatu Cancels Citizenship of Fugitive Indian Businessman Lalit Modi
Vanuatu Cancels Citizenship of Fugitive Indian Businessman Lalit Modi
Vanuatu's Prime Minister announces the revocation of Lalit Modi's citizenship in light of his alleged attempts to evade legal accountability in India.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat has officially revoked the citizenship of Lalit Modi, the fugitive Indian businessman and ex-Indian Premier League (IPL) chief, following revelations regarding his potential motivations for acquiring a passport. The decision came just a few days after news broke that Modi had successfully obtained Vanuatu citizenship, a development that raised alarms among Indian officials who are pursuing him for alleged corruption linked to his former role in cricket’s richest tournament.
Modi, who has been living in the United Kingdom since 2010, is wanted by Indian authorities for allegedly manipulating bids during his time leading the IPL, a tournament he helped found in 2008. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Modi's application to surrender his Indian passport was processed in London, and that Vanuatu's recognition of his citizenship has complicated ongoing extradition efforts.
Prime Minister Napat emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of Vanuatu's citizenship, labeling it as a privilege that requires legitimate reasons for acquisition. He pointedly stated, "None of those legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition," referencing fresh information about the Interpol's rejection of India's requests to issue an alert on Modi based on inadequate evidence.
This cancellation not only aligns with Vanuatu's policy against granting citizenship for evasion of legal issues but also potentially facilitates India's pursuit of Modi, as Vanuatu lacks an extradition agreement with India, unlike the UK. Modi has consistently denied the allegations against him, claiming no pending legal cases in India and accusing the media of disseminating misinformation about his situation.
The allegations against Modi primarily focus on bid manipulation during the IPL's team franchise auction in 2010 and unauthorized dealings related to broadcasting rights. In 2013, he faced a lifetime ban from any cricket-related activities imposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
