New Delhi: Fugitive Lalit Modi has faced yet another major setback. Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Jotham Napat, has ordered the cancellation of his passport following a massive exposé by TV9 Bharatvarsh, which brought this entire issue to light on the global stage.
Why did Vanuatu government take this decision?
Prime Minister Jotham Napat, in his official statement, said: “I have directed the Citizenship Commission to immediately initiate the process to cancel Lalit Modi’s Vanuatu passport.”
He further explained that when Lalit Modi applied for a Vanuatu passport, all standard procedures, including Interpol screening, were followed. At the time, there were no recorded criminal proceedings against him. However, it has now emerged that Interpol rejected India’s request twice to issue an alert notice against Modi due to a lack of sufficient judicial evidence. If such an alert had been issued earlier, his citizenship application would have been automatically rejected.
With this decision, the Vanuatu government has made it clear that its Golden Passport program will not be a safe haven for criminals.
How did TV9’s exposé change the game?
The TV9 investigation played a crucial role in bringing this matter to light. Here’s how one report exposed Lalit Modi’s hidden maneuvers and forced the Vanuatu government to take action:
1. TV9’s exclusive report
Through international sources, I obtained Lalit Modi’s Vanuatu passport. We exposed it on TV9, revealing to the world that Modi had acquired foreign citizenship.
2. Lalit Modi’s reaction
Following the exposé, Lalit Modi was forced to apply for renunciation of his Indian citizenship at the Indian High Commission in London. This was a clear sign that he had been trying to secure his safe haven abroad.
3. Questions to the MEA & confirmation
I directly questioned India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) about the issue. MEA officially confirmed that Lalit Modi had acquired foreign citizenship.
4. Media coverage & global attention
After TV9’s report, the story spread across global media. The Vanuatu government took notice of the controversy.
5. Vanuatu government’s major decision
The Vanuatu government realized that this controversy was damaging their reputation. PM Jotham Napat finally decided to cancel Lalit Modi’s passport. He admitted that the real facts about Modi came to light through media reports.
Vanuatu’s global reputation at risk
Vanuatu is widely known for its “Golden Passport” program, which allows wealthy individuals to obtain citizenship in exchange for investments. However, with Lalit Modi’s name now linked to it, the credibility of this program is under serious threat.
The government insists that they have strengthened their citizenship vetting process in recent years, but cases like Lalit Modi’s can severely damage their credibility. This decision signals that Vanuatu may now take steps to make its passport program more transparent.
Who is Lalit Modi and why did he flee India?
Lalit Modi is the former chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but in 2010, he fled India due to allegations of corruption, money laundering, and financial irregularities.
The Indian government has repeatedly requested Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice against him, but so far, it has not been approved. Acquiring Vanuatu’s citizenship had further secured Modi, but now that Vanuatu itself has decided to revoke his passport, this is a significant setback for him.
What’s next for Lalit Modi?
Now, the biggest question is: What options does Lalit Modi have left?
1. Will he apply for citizenship in another country?
2. Will the Indian government speed up his extradition process?
3. Will European countries pressure Vanuatu to shut down its citizenship program?
No matter what happens next, TV9’s exposé has once again proven that true journalism does not just reveal the truth but also compels governments to take action.
