Vanuatu Cancels Lalit Modi’s Passport Over Extradition Concerns

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India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI- Vanuatu has canceled the passport of former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi, citing concerns that he was using it to evade extradition to India. Prime Minister Jotham Napat emphasized that citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and ordered its revocation.

Modi, who left India in 2010 while facing allegations of financial misconduct, obtained Vanuatu citizenship through its “Citizenship by Investment” program. Following the cancellation, he described the island nation as “truly heavenly” in a social media post.

The Vanuatu government stated that Modi’s passport was issued after standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, which found no criminal convictions at the time. However, India had reportedly sought its cancellation. Interpol previously rejected India’s requests to issue a notice against him due to insufficient judicial evidence—an alert that would have automatically disqualified him from obtaining Vanuatu citizenship.

India does not have a diplomatic mission in Vanuatu, but its high commission in New Zealand manages bilateral relations. Modi remains wanted in India on charges of financial irregularities, including bid-rigging, money laundering. Despite multiple attempts by Indian authorities to secure his return, he has lived in London since 2010.

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