To avoid Indian law, former Chief of IPL and well-known businessman Lalit Modi has played a new bet. He has left the citizenship of India and has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu, a small country in the Pacific Ocean. A copy of Lalit Modi’s new passport has been handed over from his international contacts. , Lalit Modi has taken citizenship of Vanuatu by spending crores of rupees. The process of extraditing Lalit Modi back and getting back has now become highly complicated by leaving India’s citizenship and getting foreign passports.
Why did Lalit Modi choose Vanuatu?
Lalit Modi acquired citizenship of Vanuatu because there is no tax here. The government of Vanuatu runs a golden visa program. Under the Golden Visa program, citizenship is easily achieved by paying money. Crores of rupees have to be paid for the citizenship of Vanuatu. Vanuatu does not have an extradition treaty with India or any country. Lalit Modi’s extradition in India from Vanuatu is very difficult. Vanuatu is a safe hideout for frauds and people involved in scams.
Lalit Modi is running the trick of Mehul Choksi
Lalit Modi’s case is similar to India’s diamond businessman Mehul Choksi. Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017. When India tried to extradite his extradition, it had tried to avoid returning to India by resorting to citizenship and legal hurdles, so far Mehul Choksi has not been brought. Now Lalit Modi has also taken the same path. After taking citizenship of Vanuatu, his Indian passport was automatically canceled and the Government of India has now limited the scope of taking legal action against him.
Will India be able to bring Lalit Modi now?
The Government of India can make diplomatic and legal efforts to bring Lalit Modi back, but it will be very difficult due to lack of extradition treaty with Vanuatu.
Now what next?
- . India can issue Interpol Red notice.
- . Efforts can be made to put diplomatic pressure on the world.
- Action can be taken under other global laws of Money Laundering.
At the moment, it seems that the trick that Lalit Modi has done to avoid the law of India can prove to be effective. Now it will be interesting to see what kind of strategy the Government of India adopts for their extradition.
