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Where is Lalit Modi? Fugitive & Ex-IPL Boss Shares Photo From Vanuatu After Citizenship Snub

Lalit Modi Shares A Photo From Vanuatu (Image: X/ LalitModi)

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi took to social media to share a photo from Vanuatu after the country’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat ordered the authorities to cancel the passport issued to Modi, saying that the fugitive was attempting to avoid his extradition.
In a praise for the island nation, Lalit Modi said that one must visit Vanuatu as it a “heavenly country.” “Vanuatu a beautiful country. You must put on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country,” Modi posted on X.
Lalit Modi left India in 2010 and is learnt to have been living in London since then, as per reports.

Earlier in the day, Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat directed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the passport issued to Lalit Modi on Monday.

Why Vanuatu Cancelled Lalit Modi’s Passport

Vanuatu Prime Minister Napat said that attempts to escape extradition don’t qualify as a legitimate reason to get citizenship in the South Pacific Ocean nation. Napat said that holding a Vanuatu passport is a privilege and not a right, adding that applicants must seek citizenship for legitimate reasons.
“While all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, conducted during his application showed no criminal convictions, I have been made aware in the past 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected Indian authorities’ requests to issue an alert notice on Mr. Modi due to lack of substantive judicial evidence,” the statement issued by PM Napat reads.
“Any such alert would have triggered an automatic rejection of Mr. Modi’s citizenship application,” he said.
“None of those legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition, which the recent facts brought to light clearly indicate was Mr. Modi’s intention,” Napat added.

What India Said on Lalit Modi?

After reports surfaced claiming that Lalit Modi has secured Vanuatu’s citizenship, India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the development. He has made an application for surrendering his passport in the high commission of India, London. The same will be examined in light of extant rules and procedures. We are also given to understand that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu. We continue to pursue the case against him as required under law,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday.
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