Lalit Modi Seeks to Renounce Indian Passport, Holds Vanuatu Citizenship

Lalit Modi Seeks to Renounce Indian Passport, Holds Vanuatu Citizenship

Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman and a key figure in its formation, has expressed his intention to give up his Indian passport. He has also obtained citizenship of Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation.

Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed on Friday: “Lalit Modi has submitted an application to surrender his passport at the High Commission of India in London. The application will be reviewed in accordance with existing rules and procedures.”

He added, "We have also been informed that Modi has acquired citizenship in Vanuatu. However, we will continue to pursue the legal case against him as necessary."

Modi has been under investigation by various agencies in India for alleged forex violations and a controversial ₹425-crore TV rights deal for the 2009 IPL with World Sports Group.

In 2010, after attending a single interrogation session with Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials regarding forex violations, Modi fled to the UK. He had been the architect behind the launch of the IPL in 2008, which blended cricket with glamour and quickly became a global sports phenomenon. During the 2009 season, when the IPL had to be relocated to South Africa due to the Indian elections, Modi proved the value of the league internationally.

However, his career took a dramatic turn following the IPL 2010 final, when he was suspended from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for alleged misconduct, indiscipline, and financial irregularities involving bids for two new IPL franchises—Pune and Kochi. In 2013, after an investigation, the BCCI imposed a lifetime ban on him.

Since then, Modi has resided in London and has given multiple interviews denying the charges leveled against him by the BCCI. In 2015, a special court in Mumbai issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Modi in connection with an alleged money-laundering case filed by the ED.

Vanuatu, which is made up of more than 80 islands in the southern Pacific Ocean and has a population of about 300,000, gained independence from France and Britain in 1980. The country offers citizenship through its Citizenship by Investment program, which requires a non-refundable donation or investment. For a single applicant, the cost is USD 155,000 (about ₹1.3 crore), making it one of the most affordable routes to acquiring citizenship.

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