Vanuatu annulled the passport of Lalit Modi due to concerns over his alleged legal issues in India. This decision is part of Vanuatu’s stricter regulations on its Citizenship by Investment Program, which had previously rejected Nirav Modi’s application as well. Enhanced due diligence and international scrutiny have prompted the island nation to tighten its citizenship policies.
The island nation of Vanuatu has annulled the passport of Lalit Modi, the former chairman of the Indian Premier League, citing concerns over his legal controversies in India. Prime Minister Jotham Napat explained that although initial background checks revealed no convictions, Interpol had previously denied requests from Indian authorities to issue an alert notice due to insufficient judicial evidence. Napat emphasized that individuals must obtain Vanuatu’s passport for legitimate purposes, not as a means to escape extradition, which appears to be Modi’s intention.
Prior to Modi’s case, Vanuatu also refused citizenship to Nirav Modi, a diamond jeweler involved in a significant banking fraud case. Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI) allows individuals to attain citizenship via a donation or investment, with a cost of approximately $155,000 for applicants. Nirav Modi’s attempt at citizenship occurred just months before the Punjab National Bank scandal became public, and his application was ultimately rejected due to adverse findings identified by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
Vanuatu has implemented stricter scrutiny of its citizenship program in recent years. According to Prime Minister Napat, the due diligence of applicants has been significantly enhanced, leading to a higher rate of failed applications due to thorough checks, including those by Interpol. Concerns had risen regarding the misuse of citizenship via investment schemes, prompting the European Union to revoke Vanuatu’s visa-free travel agreement, which was suspended due to the security risks associated with such programs.
On the international front, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) noted that citizenship by investment schemes could facilitate money laundering and criminal activities by providing criminals with greater mobility and obscuring their identities. Lalit Modi himself is facing allegations of financial irregularities related to forex violations and a significant sum linked to a television rights deal. He fled to the UK after a brief period of interrogations in 2010, and he was subsequently banned for life from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following misconduct allegations. Modi persists in claiming his innocence in all related matters.
Vanuatu’s recent decisions concerning the citizenship applications of Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi reflect a significant tightening in their Citizenship by Investment Program aimed at preventing misuse. The country’s commitment to enhanced due diligence, coupled with international pressure from bodies like the EU and FATF, underscores a broader trend of scrutinization of citizenship schemes globally. The ongoing investigations against Lalit Modi and previous allegations against Nirav Modi demonstrate the legal complexities surrounding individuals seeking to evade accountability through foreign citizenship.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
