New Delhi:
Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is facing fresh trouble as the government of Vanuatu has decided to revoke the passport issued to him. The decision was made on the grounds that attempts to evade extradition do not qualify as legitimate reasons to obtain citizenship in the South Pacific Ocean nation.
Modi, a billionaire fugitive, is wanted in India for alleged financial irregularities. He had previously applied to the Indian High Commission in London to surrender his Indian passport.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has instructed the country’s Citizenship Commission to cancel Modi’s passport “following recent revelations in international media,” according to his office.
“Although background checks, including Interpol screenings, conducted during his application showed no criminal convictions, I have been informed in the last 24 hours that Interpol rejected Indian authorities’ requests for an alert notice on Mr. Modi twice due to lack of substantial judicial evidence. Any such alert would have led to an automatic rejection of Modi’s citizenship application,” Prime Minister Napat stated.
He emphasized that holding a Vanuatu passport is a privilege, not a right, and applicants must have legitimate reasons for seeking citizenship.
“None of these legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition, which recent facts have shown was Mr. Modi’s intention,” he added.
The statement noted that the Vanuatu government has significantly enhanced due diligence in its citizenship by investment program over the past four years. This has led to a higher rate of applications failing the increased scrutiny by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit. “The improved process implemented several years ago includes triple-agency checks, including Interpol verification,” the Prime Minister’s office explained.
The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that Lalit Modi has applied to surrender his Indian passport. “He has submitted an application to surrender his passport at the high commission of India, London,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “The application will be reviewed in accordance with existing rules and procedures. We are also aware that he has obtained citizenship of Vanuatu. We will continue to pursue the case against him as required by law,” he added.
Lalit Modi left India in 2010 and is wanted in connection with allegations of embezzlement of funds during his time as IPL commissioner.
