NEW DELHI: Just hours after Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat ordered the cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport, the former IPL chief shared breathtaking pictures of the island nation, calling it a “heavenly country” and urging people to visit.
“Vanuatu is a beautiful country. You must put it on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country,” Modi wrote, seemingly unfazed by the storm brewing over his citizenship.
Vanuatu PM drops the hammer
Earlier today, PM Napat directed the Citizenship Commission to revoke Modi’s passport, citing concerns that the fugitive ex-cricket administrator was attempting to dodge extradition.
Modi, who fled India in 2010 and has been living in London, had filed an application on March 7 with the Indian High Commission in London to surrender his Indian passport. His Vanuatu citizenship—once a safe haven—now appears to be at risk.
Interpol rejection raises eyebrows
What makes the case even murkier is that despite India’s efforts, Interpol has twice rejected requests to issue an alert notice against Modi, citing a “lack of substantive judicial evidence.”
“While all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, conducted during his application showed no criminal convictions, I have been made aware in the past 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected Indian authorities’ requests,” the Vanuatu PM said in a statement.