Port Vila: Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has had his Vanuatu passport cancelled amid concerns over his attempts to evade extradition to India. The decision was taken by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat after revelations that Modi, who has been a fugitive since 2010, is wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as IPL chief.
Modi, who has been residing in London since fleeing India, recently applied to surrender his Indian passport at the Indian High Commission in London. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed receiving his application. Having acquired Vanuatu citizenship, Modi came under intense scrutiny due to his alleged involvement in embezzlement cases.
Reacting to media reports on Modi’s fugitive status, Prime Minister Napat directed the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission to revoke his passport. In an official statement, Napat asserted that holding a Vanuatu passport is a privilege and should only be granted for legitimate reasons. He further emphasized that using citizenship to evade extradition was unacceptable.
Napat also highlighted Vanuatu’s recent efforts to strengthen its due diligence process for its citizenship-by-investment program. He stated that stricter scrutiny by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit has led to a higher rejection rate for applicants failing to meet the government’s enhanced security checks.
