Vanuatu PM Jotham Napat Cancels Lalit Modi’s Passport Due to Legal Issues

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat has ordered the cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport, following his citizenship revocation. Indian authorities are pursuing Modi for alleged embezzlement during his IPL tenure. Modi recently applied to surrender his Indian passport. Vanuatu’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, tourism, and a citizenship by investment scheme.

Lalit Modi, a fugitive who obtained Vanuatu citizenship to avoid facing Indian authorities, has had his citizenship revoked. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, has ordered the cancellation of Modi’s passport. This decision reportedly came about with significant involvement from India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Nita Bhushan, and officials from various island nations.

Indian law enforcement agencies are pursuing Lalit Modi due to allegations of embezzlement amounting to several crore rupees during his tenure as chief of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He left India in 2010 and has resided in London since then. On March 7, Modi submitted a request to surrender his Indian passport, which the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed was received and would be processed according to standard regulations. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India will persist in its pursuit of justice in this case.

Vanuatu is an archipelago located in the South Pacific Ocean, nestled between Australia and Fiji. The capital city, Port Vila, lies on the island of Efate. Consisting of 83 islands, 65 of which are populated, Vanuatu’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Additionally, Vanuatu permits foreigners to acquire citizenship through investment, requiring a fee of approximately 1.5 million USD, which contributes significantly to the nation’s revenue through passport sales.

In summary, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu has ordered the cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport as part of an international effort to address his alleged financial crimes in India. This follows recent developments concerning Modi’s attempts to surrender his Indian passport while living abroad. Vanuatu, notable for its citizenship by investment program, has reinforced its commitment to international law and cooperation with India in this matter.

Original Source: www.lokmattimes.com