Vanuatu Revokes Lalit Modi’s Citizenship Over Extradition Concerns

Prime Minister Jotham Napat ordered the cancellation after revelations of Interpol rejecting India’s alerts due to insufficient evidence.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat directed the Citizenship Commission to cancel Lalit Modi’s passport, citing concerns about misuse of the citizenship process.
Interpol twice rejected India’s requests for an alert notice on Modi, citing lack of substantive judicial evidence, which would have disqualified his citizenship application.
The Vanuatu government emphasized that citizenship is a privilege requiring legitimate reasons, excluding attempts to avoid extradition.
Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, has denied wrongdoing, claiming no legal cases are pending against him in India.
The decision reflects Vanuatu’s recent efforts to strengthen due diligence in its citizenship by investment program, including enhanced background checks.