Lalit Modi has obtained Vanuatuan citizenship, making his return to India more difficult. He has applied to relinquish his Indian citizenship at the Indian High Commission in London, and the government will decide on the application according to regulations.
Lalit Modi return to India: Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chief and industrialist Lalit Modi has renounced his Indian citizenship. He has acquired citizenship in Vanuatu, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. This decision has made his return to India even more challenging for the Indian government. The Ministry of External Affairs responded by stating that the government will decide according to legal procedures.
Ministry of External Affairs' Response
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Lalit Modi has applied to renounce his Indian citizenship at the Indian High Commission in London. He also confirmed that they are aware of Modi's acquisition of Vanuatuan citizenship. The Indian government is still attempting to bring him back to India through legal processes.
Why did Lalit Modi choose Vanuatu?
Vanuatu, a small country located east of Australia, is known for its relatively easy citizenship policy. Citizenship can be obtained by investing just $1.30 million. Couples receive special discounts on the combined investment amount.
Lalit Modi fled in 2010
Lalit Modi, who also served as the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), faces accusations of money laundering, financial irregularities, and violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). He left India in 2010 due to these charges. Despite ongoing investigations, efforts to bring him back have been unsuccessful.
Can Modi evade justice like other economic offenders?
The Indian government has previously attempted to extradite economic offenders like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi, but without success. Lalit Modi's change of citizenship further diminishes the likelihood of his return to India.
