Subhechcha Ganguly 
Lalit Modi, the former IPL commissioner, took to social media on Monday to share scenic photos from Vanuatu, after the South Pacific island nation’s Prime Minister, Jotham Napat, ordered the cancellation of his citizenship. Modi, who is wanted by Indian law enforcement in connection with embezzlement and other financial misconduct charges during his tenure as IPL chief, had previously acquired Vanuatu citizenship.
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi praised Vanuatu, calling it a “beautiful country” and recommending it as a “bucket list” destination, describing it as a place “away from all the pollution and noise” and “truly heavenly.”
Vanuatu’s government, however, issued a statement confirming the cancellation of Modi’s passport, citing revelations in international media. The statement clarified that while all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, showed no criminal convictions at the time of his application, Indian authorities had unsuccessfully requested Interpol’s help in issuing an alert notice due to a lack of substantial judicial evidence.
Modi, who has been living in London since 2010, is facing charges related to bid-rigging, money laundering, and violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). He left India in 2010 amid an investigation into financial misconduct.
In a recent post, Modi denied any ongoing legal cases against him in India, calling media reports “fiction” and accusing them of spreading “fake news.” He added that despite the years that have passed, no formal charges have been filed against him, and he remains proud of his role in creating the globally popular IPL.
Modi now faces the possibility of becoming an illegal alien in the UK if both India and Vanuatu revoke his citizenship.
