The Vanuatu government has canceled the passport of IPL founder Lalit Modi. Officials stated that he obtained citizenship for illegitimate reasons, mainly to evade extradition. This decision came after international media reported that Modi was trying to avoid being sent back to India.

Why Vanuatu Approved Modi’s Citizenship

The Prime Minister’s office explained that when Modi applied for citizenship, Interpol had twice refused to issue an alert against him. Moreover, background checks found no criminal convictions. As a result, authorities approved his passport.

However, Prime Minister Napat later stressed that Vanuatu citizenship is a privilege, not a right. He made it clear that applicants must have genuine reasons to seek it.

After securing Vanuatu citizenship, Modi had applied to surrender his Indian passport.

India’s Reaction to Modi’s Citizenship Move

On March 7, reports surfaced about Modi’s Vanuatu citizenship. In response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the Indian government was aware of his attempt to surrender his passport at the High Commission in London.

"We are continuing to pursue all cases against him as per the law," Jaiswal stated. He also assured that authorities would review Modi’s citizenship status based on existing legal provisions.

Modi Denies Allegations

Lalit Modi, currently living in London, dismissed all accusations. On March 8, he took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to defend himself.

"No court of law in India has a case pending against me personally. It's only media fiction," he wrote. He also claimed, "Fifteen years have gone. But they keep saying we are going after me... this is called fake news."

Modi further asserted, "The only thing that I have done single-handedly is create a globally loved product called IPL."

Allegations Against Lalit Modi

Modi previously served as the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, authorities accused him of financial crimes, including bid-rigging, money laundering, and violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.

Investigations also linked him to unauthorized fund transfers. In 2010, amid growing scrutiny, Modi left India and has remained abroad since then.