NEW DELHI: Former IPL chairman and fugitive businessman Lalit Modi on Tuesday dismissed reports of an alleged extradition notice against him, calling them “fake news.”
“What’s this so-called extradition notice on me the media keeps falsely claiming?” Lalit Modi wrote in a post. “I have been out of India for 15 years, travelling globally to all the countries that India has an extradition treaty with. Would I not know if there was an extradition notice out there firstly? Secondly, would I risk going to such countries? Thirdly, if I went, would not those countries take action?”
“This is called fake news. Keep shouting in your false news channels and media what u like as u know I alone can garner u more viewership. Go for it,” fugitive businessman added.
Lalit Modi also shared a copy of an Interpol report from March 2017, which had denied India’s request for a Red Corner Notice against him.
His statement comes a day after Vanuatu Post reported that the country’s Prime Minister, Jotham Napat, had asked the citizenship commission to revoke Lalit Modi’s citizenship.
However, citing a separate report from VBTC News, Lalit Modi mentioned that the commission would wait for the court’s decision before taking any action.
“The chairman of the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission said his office would wait for the outcome of the court before making a decision on Mr Lalit Modi as a Ni-Vanuatu,” he wrote, quoting the report. “Chairman Charles Maniel was speaking following an order issued by Prime Minister Jotham Napat today to the Citizenship Commission to start the process of canceling the passport of Mr Lalit Modi following some allegations made by Mr Lalit Modi is passing for it in court. Chairman Maniel said that if the court finds that Mr Lalit Modi is guilty, the commission will start the process of canceling his passport and citizenship as a Ni-Vanuatu.”
Republic of Vanuatu
Lalit Modi also questioned the legal basis for the reports. “I too want to know which case is pending and in which exact court and exactly for what,” he posted on X, along with a picture from his visit to the island nation.
Meanwhile, Vanuatu Post quoted PM Jotham Napat as saying, “My message must be absolutely clear: As PM, we will not harbour fugitives or criminals. We have zero tolerance for those seeking to use our citizenship to evade justice. If that is your intention, I strongly advise you to look elsewhere.”
Lalit Modi, who is currently based in London, had applied to surrender his Indian passport after acquiring Vanuatu citizenship.