By Gill Bikram Singh 
New Delhi:
A day after Vanuatu cancelled his passport, Lalit Modi, the former chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), praised the island nation as “truly heavenly.” The decision to cancel Mr. Modi’s passport was ordered by Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat, citing concerns that the fugitive was using it to avoid extradition to India.
In a social media post, Mr. Modi wrote, “Vanuatu [is] a beautiful country. You must put [it] on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country.”
Lalit Modi, who left India in 2010 amid financial fraud allegations, had been living in London and reportedly obtained Vanuatu citizenship through its “Citizenship by Investment” program.
Why Was Lalit Modi’s Passport Cancelled?
In an official statement, Prime Minister Napat directed the Citizenship Commission to revoke Mr. Modi’s passport. He emphasized that Vanuatu citizenship is a privilege, not a right. The statement clarified that Mr. Modi’s passport was issued only after thorough background checks, including Interpol screenings, which showed no criminal convictions at the time.
However, the statement also revealed that Interpol had twice rejected requests from Indian authorities to issue a Red Notice against Mr. Modi due to insufficient judicial evidence. Had an alert been issued, Mr. Modi’s citizenship application would have been automatically rejected, according to PM Napat.
Reports indicate that India requested Vanuatu to cancel Mr. Modi’s passport. While India does not have a diplomatic mission in Vanuatu, its High Commission in New Zealand manages bilateral relations with the island nation.
Lalit Modi’s Legal Troubles
As the founding chairman of the IPL, Lalit Modi faces several financial misconduct charges in India. These include allegations of bid-rigging, money laundering, and violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Despite numerous attempts by Indian authorities to bring him back, Mr. Modi has remained in London since 2010, evading extradition and legal accountability.
(global affair world news, globalaffairsworld)