Vanuatu's Prime Minister has taken decisive action against Lalit Modi, the former IPL chief wanted in India for corruption, by revoking his citizenship previously granted by the island nation.
Vanuatu Revokes Citizenship of Fleeing IPL Boss Lalit Modi
Vanuatu Revokes Citizenship of Fleeing IPL Boss Lalit Modi
Controversy Surrounds Vanuatu's Decision to Cancel Passport of Wanted Indian Businessman
On Monday, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, announced the cancellation of holding the passport for fugitive businessman Lalit Modi, wanted by Indian authorities for his alleged involvement in a major corruption scandal. This decision follows just three days after India confirmed that Mr. Modi had acquired Vanuatu citizenship amid his ongoing legal troubles in India.
Lalit Modi, who headed the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been accused of manipulating bids while overseeing the world's wealthiest cricket tournament. Residing in the UK since 2010, he has persistently denied any wrongdoing. India has made multiple attempts to extradite him, all of which have been unsuccessful.
On Friday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Modi had applied to surrender his Indian passport in London. "We have also been informed that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu and will continue our legal pursuit in his case," Jaiswal stated.
The announcement of his citizenship in Vanuatu sparked significant attention in India, where Modi was a prominent figure in the glamorous IPL culture, frequently mingling with Bollywood celebrities and the affluent elite. However, Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat clarified that citizenship granted should be based on "legitimate reasons," adding that avoiding extradition did not meet these criteria.
Napat explained that during the application process, checks by Interpol deeming Modi eligible revealed no prior criminal convictions. Nevertheless, he was alerted that India's Interpol requests to issue an alert notice against Modi were rejected twice due to inadequate judicial evidence—a development that, if known earlier, would have led to an automatic denial of his citizenship.
This move regarding Mr. Modi's citizenship is expected to be a relief for Indian authorities, especially since Vanuatu lacks an extradition treaty with India, which would hinder efforts to bring Modi back to face charges. The day before the announcement, Modi took to social media, claiming there were no pending legal cases against him in India, alleging that the media was spreading "fake news."
In 2008, Modi played a pivotal role in establishing the IPL, which has since evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry. The allegations he faces primarily involve irregularities in the auction of team franchises in 2010 and unauthorized sales of broadcasting rights. In 2013, he was banned for life from cricket-related activities by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Stay updated on developments regarding this case via our social media channels and platforms.
Lalit Modi, who headed the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been accused of manipulating bids while overseeing the world's wealthiest cricket tournament. Residing in the UK since 2010, he has persistently denied any wrongdoing. India has made multiple attempts to extradite him, all of which have been unsuccessful.
On Friday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Modi had applied to surrender his Indian passport in London. "We have also been informed that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu and will continue our legal pursuit in his case," Jaiswal stated.
The announcement of his citizenship in Vanuatu sparked significant attention in India, where Modi was a prominent figure in the glamorous IPL culture, frequently mingling with Bollywood celebrities and the affluent elite. However, Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat clarified that citizenship granted should be based on "legitimate reasons," adding that avoiding extradition did not meet these criteria.
Napat explained that during the application process, checks by Interpol deeming Modi eligible revealed no prior criminal convictions. Nevertheless, he was alerted that India's Interpol requests to issue an alert notice against Modi were rejected twice due to inadequate judicial evidence—a development that, if known earlier, would have led to an automatic denial of his citizenship.
This move regarding Mr. Modi's citizenship is expected to be a relief for Indian authorities, especially since Vanuatu lacks an extradition treaty with India, which would hinder efforts to bring Modi back to face charges. The day before the announcement, Modi took to social media, claiming there were no pending legal cases against him in India, alleging that the media was spreading "fake news."
In 2008, Modi played a pivotal role in establishing the IPL, which has since evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry. The allegations he faces primarily involve irregularities in the auction of team franchises in 2010 and unauthorized sales of broadcasting rights. In 2013, he was banned for life from cricket-related activities by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Stay updated on developments regarding this case via our social media channels and platforms.
