Vanuatu PM Cancels Lalit Modi's Passport Amid Legal Troubles

• Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has ordered the immediate cancellation of Lalit Modi’s Vanuatu passport due to recent media reports about his legal issues in India.
• Napat emphasized that obtaining Vanuatu citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and applicants must have genuine reasons for seeking citizenship, not to evade legal proceedings.
• Modi has applied to surrender his Indian passport at the Indian High Commission in London after acquiring Vanuatu citizenship, with India's Ministry of External Affairs reviewing the request.
• Indian authorities have repeatedly sought assistance from the UK in extraditing Modi, but attempts to issue an Interpol Red Notice were rejected due to insufficient judicial evidence.
• Vanuatu has strengthened its citizenship-by-investment programme, implementing stricter vetting procedures, including multiple layers of verification such as Interpol checks.

Source: The Economic Times, Moneycontrol, Ndtv, The Times Of India, Business News India, Mint, Hindustan Times, Times Now News, News 18