Vanuatu PM orders cancelation of fugitive Lalit Modi's citizenship request, says 'bid to avoid extradition'
PTC News Desk: Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat directed the country's Citizenship Commission to cancel the Vanuatu passport issued to former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner.
The cancellation of the passport was based on reports in the international media which suggested that Lalit Modi was avoiding extradition to India. A statement from the office of the Prime Minister's office said that since the Interpol had twice rejected request for an alert on Lalit Modi the application of a Vanuatu Passport was not rejected and standard background check did not show any criminal conviction.
Lalit Modi, who previously served as the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is accused of alleged bid-rigging, money laundering, and violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). He left India in 2010 while under investigation for alleged financial misconduct, including unauthorized fund transfers.
Earlier, on March 7, while responding to a question on reports that Lalit Modi had acquired the citizenship of Vanuatu, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that they are aware of his application for surrendering his passport in the High Commission of India in London and they are continuing to pursue all cases against him as per the law.
- PTC NEWS
