Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat has revoked Lalit Modi’s citizenship and ordered the cancellation of his passport, following India’s efforts to apprehend the fugitive for alleged embezzlement. This decision was facilitated by discussions with India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand. Modi has requested to surrender his Indian passport, and Vanuatu benefits economically from its citizenship-by-investment program.
Lalit Modi, a fugitive who previously acquired citizenship in Vanuatu to escape Indian authorities, has had his citizenship revoked. Prime Minister Jotham Napat has ordered the cancellation of Modi’s Vanuatu passport, influenced by inputs from India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Nita Bhushan, and officials from other island nations. This action aligns with India’s ongoing efforts to apprehend Modi for alleged embezzlement during his time as IPL chief.
Modi, who fled India in 2010, has resided in London since then. On March 7, he requested to surrender his Indian passport, a process acknowledged by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which stated that the request would be handled according to established regulations. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India remains committed to pursuing the case against Modi.
Vanuatu, located in the South Pacific between Australia and Fiji, is comprised of 83 islands with Port Vila as its capital. The nation’s economy primarily benefits from agriculture, tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Recently, Vanuatu has earned revenue through its citizenship-by-investment program, allowing foreigners to acquire citizenship for approximately 1.5 million USD.
The cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport by Prime Minister Jotham Napat symbolizes a significant step in international cooperation against financial crime. With Vanuatu’s citizenship previously used for evasion, this action underscores the global commitment to combating embezzlement and related offenses. As India’s pursuit of legal action against Modi continues, the collaboration between nations remains pivotal in bringing alleged financial criminals to justice.
Original Source: www.lokmattimes.com
