Fresh problems for Lalit Modi, Vanuatu to cancel passport

In fresh problems for the Indian Premier League (IPL) -founder Lalit Modi, the Vanuatu government has decided to cancel the passport issued to him, saying that attempts to escape extradition do not qualify as a legitimate reason to obtain citizenship in the southern Pacific Ocean Nation.

The billionaire refugee is in demand in India for alleged economic irregularities. Previously, Lalit Modi filed an application to the Indian High Commission in London to surrender his Indian passport.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has asked the country’s citizenship commission to cancel the passport issued to Lalit Modi “After recent revelations in international media,” his office said.

“While all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings made during his application, did not show any criminal abode, I have been made aware of the last 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected the Indian authorities’ requests to issue an alarm message on Mr. Modi due to lack of substantial legal evidence. Any such warning would have triggered an automatic rejection of HR. Citizenship application, ”said Prime Minister Napat.

He emphasized that keeping a Vanuatu pass is a privilege, not a right, and applicants must seek citizenship for legitimate reasons.

“None of these legitimate reasons include attempts to avoid extradition, as the recent facts that were brought forward clearly indicates, was Mr. Modi’s intention,” he added.

The statement added that the Vanuatu government has significantly strengthened the due diligence aspect of its citizenship following the investment program for the past four years. This, said the Prime Minister’s office, has resulted in a significant increase in applications failing the improved control conducted by Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit. “The improved process implemented several years ago includes Triple Agency Controllers, including Interpol verification,” it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs recently confirmed that Lalit Modi filed an application to surrender its Indian passport. “He has filed an application for surrendering his passport in the high commission in India, London,” said spokesman for external affairs Randhir Jaiswal. “The same will be investigated in the light of existing rules and procedures. We also get to understand that he has acquired citizenship in Vanuatu. We continue to pursue the case against him as required under the law,” he said.

Lalit Modi left India in 2010. He is in demand in India in connection with accusations that he was involved in the substrate of Crores during his stint as an IPL Commissioner.