The former IPL chief is wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies in connection with allegations that he was involved in embezzlement of crores of rupees during his stint as the top boss of the IPL.
New Delhi: Fresh trouble seems to be mounting on fugitive Lalit Modi as the Vanuatu government has decided to cancel his passport. This comes days after Lalit Modi filed an application with the Indian High Commission in London to surrender his Indian passport.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat directed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the passport issued to former Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi. He said that attempts to escape extradition don’t qualify as a legitimate reason to get citizenship in the South Pacific Ocean nation.
Napat said that holding a Vanuatu passport is a privilege and not a right, adding that applicants must seek citizenship for legitimate reasons.
Vanuatu PM has directed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the passport issued to Lalit Modi.
Just a few weeks back, #LalitModi acquired citizenship of #Vanuatu: @bhavatoshsingh shares details with @anchoramitaw pic.twitter.com/twk9PTJYN9
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 10, 2025
‘Intention To Avoid Extradition’: Vanuatu Govt
“While all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, conducted during his application showed no criminal convictions, I have been made aware in the past 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected Indian authorities’ requests to issue an alert notice on Mr. Modi due to lack of substantive judicial evidence,” the statement issued by PM Napat reads.
“Any such alert would have triggered an automatic rejection of Mr. Modi’s citizenship application,” he said.
“None of those legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition, which the recent facts brought to light clearly indicate was Mr. Modi’s intention,” Napat added.
What India Said on Lalit Modi?
After reports surfaced claiming that Lalit Modi has secured Vanuatu’s citizenship, India’s Minsitry of External Affairs confirmed the development.
“He has made an application for surrendering his passport in the high commission of India, London. The same will be examined in light of extant rules and procedures. We are also given to understand that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu. We continue to pursue the case against him as required under law,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday.
Why Is Lalit Modi Wanted In India?
Lalit Modi left India in 2010 and is learnt to have been living in London since then.
The former IPL chief is wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies in connection with allegations that he was involved in embezzlement of crores of rupees during his stint as the top boss of the IPL.
On India’s victory in Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday, Lalit Modi took to X to congratulate the men’s cricket team. “Congratulations to #TeamIndia on winning the #worldcup and to@GautamGambhirfor his amazing ability to take them down this road 🙏🏽 and to #rohitsharma for his stewardship and dedication to the game. Most brilliant captain ever. Hats off,” he posted on X.
India defeated New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy title for the third time on Sunday. Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with an excellent half-century as a resolute India held their nerve to win an unprecedented third Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final in Dubai.
The article originally appeared on Times Now
