Lalit Modi Surrenders Indian Passport After Acquiring Vanuatu Citizenship, Extradition Becomes Tougher

New Delhi (Uttam Hindu News): Former IPL president Lalit Modi has applied to surrender his Indian passport after acquiring citizenship of Vanuatu, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. Modi, who has been accused of money laundering and violating foreign exchange laws, fled India in 2010 to avoid prosecution. His recent move to obtain Vanuatu citizenship makes his extradition even more complicated, as the country is known for its lack of extradition treaties.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed, "He has applied to submit his passport to the Indian High Commission in London." According to reports, Modi was granted citizenship of Vanuatu on December 30, 2024.

Jaiswal added that the Indian government would take appropriate legal action against Modi, despite the challenges presented by his new citizenship. Modi is accused of financial irregularities involving a ₹425 crore TV deal for the IPL in 2009. In 2010, he was suspended from the BCCI, and an investigation revealed irregularities in deals with the Pune and Kochi franchises. In 2013, after being found guilty, the BCCI banned him for life.

Modi has been residing in London for several years, frequently maintaining his innocence in interviews. In 2015, a Mumbai special court issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.

Vanuatu, composed of about 80 islands and with a population of around 300,000, offers citizenship through an investment program costing approximately ₹1.3 crore. The country became independent in 1980 and has a reputation for offering citizenship with minimal scrutiny, complicating any potential extradition process.