Lalit Modi’s Surrender of Indian Passport and Vanuatu Citizenship Revocation

Lalit Modi, the former IPL boss, surrendered his Indian passport, prompting Vanuatu’s Prime Minister to revoke his citizenship due to his status as a wanted individual in India. Vanuatu’s ‘golden passport’ program allows rapid citizenship acquisition, appealing to many, including Indians and NRIs. Despite its advantages, the scheme has faced criticism for potential exploitation by criminals.

Lalit Modi, the former founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently surrendered his Indian passport at the Indian High Commission in London. Following this action, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, announced the cancellation of Modi’s Vanuatu passport, as he faces renewed allegations of financial misconduct linked to his IPL tenure. This development has led to increased scrutiny of Modi’s status as a fugitive from India.

An official announcement from Vanuatu indicated that the cancellation of Modi’s passport was enacted after fresh media reports identified him as a wanted person in India. The Prime Minister stated, “I have instructed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the Vanuatu passport issued to Mr. Lalit Modi following recent revelations in international media.”

Reports also clarified that Interpol rejected India’s red notice requests against Modi due to insufficient judicial evidence. Consequently, any alert from Interpol would have resulted in an automatic dismissal of Modi’s citizenship application, further complicating his situation.

Modi’s escape to the UK occurred 15 years ago amid serious allegations of embezzlement, with limited progress made on India’s extradition requests. His recent acquisition of Vanuatu citizenship highlights the allure of the country’s “golden passport” program, which enables individuals to gain citizenship for a fee of USD 150,000, a process that requires minimal documentation and can be completed within a month without needing to visit the country.

The Vanuatu passport is particularly appealing, offering visa-free travel to over 120 countries, including the UK and several European nations and serving as a tax haven due to its absence of income, corporate, or wealth taxes. Vanuatu’s citizenship program has become a significant income source for the nation, contributing nearly 40% of its national revenue.

Interest in Vanuatu citizenship is rising among Indian nationals and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), with reports indicating that at least 30 Indians have secured citizenship in the past two years. However, most passports issued under this program have been granted to Chinese nationals. Despite its benefits, the golden passport scheme has faced criticism, with investigations revealing that it can be exploited by criminal networks, providing questionable individuals access to the UK and EU.

Lalit Modi’s citizenship saga has taken a pivotal turn with Vanuatu’s decision to revoke his passport amid ongoing allegations of financial irregularities. Modi’s choice to obtain Vanuatu citizenship sheds light on the appeal of the island nation’s “golden passport” program, although this scheme has drawn scrutiny for its potential misuse by individuals with dubious backgrounds. The situation underscores the complexities surrounding international citizenship and the implications of such programs for global mobility and governance.

Original Source: www.newsx.com