The Vanuatu government has revoked the citizenship of fugitive Indian businessman Lalit Modi, just days after India confirmed he had obtained a passport from the Pacific island nation, Indian and international media have reported.
The decision, announced by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat, comes as a setback for Mr Modi, who has been living in exile in London since 2010 to evade corruption charges in India.
Mr Modi, the former chief of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is wanted in India for alleged bid-rigging, money laundering and financial misconduct related to the tournament’s franchise auctions in 2010.
While he has denied all allegations, India has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to extradite him.
On March 8, India’s external affairs ministry confirmed that Mr Modi had applied to surrender his Indian passport in London and had acquired Vanuatu citizenship under its “golden passport” programme, which grants citizenship to foreigners in exchange for a US$206,000 investment.
However, Vanuatu swiftly revoked his passport, with PM Napat stating that citizenship is a privilege meant for legitimate purposes, not to avoid extradition.
He admitted that initial Interpol screenings during Mr Modi’s application did not reveal any convictions, but later evidence suggested Mr Modi sought citizenship to evade Indian authorities.
With Vanuatu revoking his citizenship, Mr Modi’s legal status in the UK is now uncertain. If his Indian passport surrender request is accepted, he may become an illegal alien in the UK, as he would no longer hold any valid nationality.
Mr Modi responded by dismissing reports of pending legal cases against him, calling them “media fiction” and accusing news outlets of spreading “fake news”.
He insisted that he had never been formally charged in any court and that his only achievement was creating the IPL, which has since become a multi-billion-dollar global cricket league.
Mr Modi’s case has highlighted India’s growing concern over tax evasion and offshore citizenship schemes, reported te Economic Times.
Vanuatu has become a preferred destination for wealthy Indians and NRIs, with its quick and low-cost naturalisation process offering tax benefits and financial secrecy. More than 30 Indians have reportedly acquired Vanuatu citizenship in the last 18 months.
As India tightens tax regulations for NRIs, Mr Modi’s attempt to secure Vanuatu citizenship underscores how some individuals use foreign passports to shield wealth and avoid legal scrutiny.
With Vanuatu’s cancellation, Indian authorities may renew efforts to bring him back to face trial.
