In a decisive move, Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat has revoked the citizenship of Lalit Modi, the ex-chief of the Indian Premier League (IPL), wanted by Indian authorities for alleged corruption. This order follows India’s recent confirmation that Modi acquired Vanuatu citizenship, raising concerns among officials.
Modi, who has been residing in the UK since 2010, faces accusations of rigging bids during his IPL tenure. India has made numerous attempts to extradite him, but success has eluded them. India's foreign ministry indicated Modi applied to surrender his Indian passport while in London, prompting further scrutiny into his situation.
Prime Minister Napat emphasized that Vanuatu citizenship is a "privilege" meant for legitimate purposes, clarifying that evasion of criminal charges does not qualify. Background checks during Modi's application initially showed no criminal convictions, but new information revealed that India’s requests to Interpol for alert notices were previously denied due to insufficient evidence.
The cancellation of Modi’s citizenship is a relief for Indian authorities, as Vanuatu lacks an extradition treaty with India. Just a day before the announcement, Modi claimed on social media that there were no outstanding legal cases against him in India, dismissing media reports as "fake news."
Lalit Modi played a pivotal role in launching the IPL in 2008, which evolved into a billion-dollar venture, but his career soured amid controversies, leading to a lifetime ban from cricket by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
