In a significant development, Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has ordered the immediate cancellation of former Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi’s passport, citing concerns over his alleged misuse of citizenship to evade extradition. The move follows Modi’s recent application to surrender his Indian passport at the Indian High Commission in London. Reports suggest that India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Neeta Bhushan, along with delegations from several island nations, played a key role in pressuring Vanuatu to revoke Modi’s citizenship. PM Napat emphasized that his government was unaware of Modi’s criminal allegations at the time of granting citizenship and reiterated that citizenship in Vanuatu is a “privilege, not a right.”
Lalit Modi, who left India in 2010 amid corruption charges linked to financial irregularities in the IPL, has been residing in London for over a decade. Indian authorities have long pursued legal action against him, alleging the embezzlement of substantial funds during his tenure as IPL chairman. However, PM Napat’s statement revealed that Interpol had twice rejected India’s request for an alert notice against Modi due to a lack of substantive judicial evidence. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of India’s legal proceedings and its ability to secure Modi’s extradition. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Modi’s request to surrender his Indian passport is under review, and India continues to pursue legal action against him.
The cancellation of Modi’s Vanuatu citizenship marks a major setback for the fugitive businessman, potentially restricting his international mobility and financial operations. The development also sheds light on the increasing scrutiny of “golden passport” schemes, where wealthy individuals obtain foreign citizenships to bypass legal troubles in their home countries. With mounting diplomatic efforts to bring Modi to justice, Indian authorities are expected to explore further legal avenues to ensure his accountability. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding his case continues to fuel debates on the global crackdown on financial fugitives.
