Lalit Modi’s Vanuatu citizenship passport has been canceled, as the Prime Minister declared that citizenship is a privilege, not a right. Modi applied to surrender his Indian passport after acquiring Vanuatu citizenship, while India pursues legal action against him for alleged financial irregularities, complicating his extradition efforts.
Lalit Modi, the former chairman of the Indian Premier League, has encountered significant difficulties as Vanuatu has annulled his citizenship passport. Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Napat, emphasized that citizenship in the country is a privilege and not a right, highlighting that valid reasons for seeking citizenship must be genuine and should not include evasion of legal proceedings. Furthermore, he noted, “None of those legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition, which the recent facts brought to light clearly indicate was Lalit Modi’s intention.”
As part of Modi’s ongoing legal issues, he applied to surrender his Indian passport at the Indian High Commission in London, following the acquisition of Vanuatu citizenship. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the review of his request in accordance with existing protocols. An MEA spokesperson stated, “We are also given to understand that Lalit Modi has acquired the citizenship of Vanuatu. We continue to pursue the case against him as required under law.”
Modi is currently facing legal actions in India concerning alleged financial misconduct, prompting Indian authorities to seek extradition assistance from the UK. However, efforts to issue an Interpol Red Notice have been stalled due to insufficient judicial evidence. With the revocation of Modi’s Vanuatu passport, his avenues for residing in safe havens are increasingly restricted, potentially complicating his legal challenges and India’s efforts to extradite him. The implications of these developments on Modi’s situation remain uncertain.
In summary, Lalit Modi faces intensified legal scrutiny as Vanuatu cancels his passport amid ongoing extradition attempts by India. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu clarified that citizenship is conditional and should not be pursued for evasion of legal matters. Modi’s application to surrender his Indian passport and the complexities surrounding his legal battles raise questions about his future and India’s strategy to bring him back to face justice.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
