Lalit Modi’s Vanuatu citizenship faces revocation after the country’s Prime Minister, Jotham Napat, ordered the cancellation of his passport. This directive, issued on Monday, follows Modi’s recent application to surrender his Indian passport at the Indian High Commission in London. The move raises questions about his legal standing and potential extradition.
Why Did Vanuatu PM Order Modi’s Passport Cancellation?
Prime Minister Jotham Napat accused Lalit Modi of attempting to evade extradition. In an official statement, the Republic of Vanuatu cited global reports exposing Modi’s legal troubles. The Prime Minister declared, “I have instructed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the Vanuatu passport issued to Mr Lalit Modi following recent revelations in international media.”
Additionally, he highlighted that Interpol had twice rejected India’s request for an alert notice against Modi due to a lack of substantive judicial evidence. “Any such alert would have triggered an automatic rejection of Mr Modi’s citizenship application,” the statement clarified.
The Vanuatu government reinforced that citizenship is a privilege, not a right. The Prime Minister emphasized that applicants must have legitimate reasons for seeking citizenship, suggesting that Modi’s case failed to meet these criteria.
Why Is Lalit Modi Wanted in India?
Indian authorities have long pursued Lalit Modi over allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure as the Indian Premier League (IPL) founder. He faces charges related to embezzlement involving significant sums of money and remains a fugitive. Despite being wanted in India, Modi has been residing in London for years, resisting extradition efforts.
Diplomatic Efforts Behind the Decision
India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Neeta Bhushan, along with diplomats from other island nations, played a crucial role in persuading Vanuatu to revoke Modi’s passport. Their coordinated efforts have intensified global pressure on Modi, making it increasingly difficult for him to evade legal consequences.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Modi, who fled the country in 2010, submitted a request to surrender his Indian passport on March 7. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “He has made an application for surrendering his passport in the high commission of India, London.”
This latest development signals growing international scrutiny on Modi and raises the possibility of further legal action in the near future.