Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi, has acquired the citizenship of Vanuatu—an island country in Melanesia located in the South Pacific Ocean.

On March 7, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said in a press conference that “Lalit Modi has been an application for surrender of his passport at the high commission of India in London, and the same will be examined in light of rules and procedures. We are also given to understand that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu. We continue to pursue the case against him as required under law.”

The Case

According to reports, Modi, who was accused of bid-rigging, money laundering, and violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), left India in 2010 and was reported to be living in London. He was the former vice president of the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI) when charges were framed against him, following which he was suspended.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has alleged that Modi, while acting as the Chairman of IPL Governing Council defrauded it of 753 crore rupees in collusion with officials of the World Sports Group (WSG), according to HT.

About Vanuatu

Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of around 80 islands spanning 1,300 kilometres. The islands provide scuba diving opportunities at coral reefs, underwater caverns, and wrecks such as the WWII troopship SS President Coolidge. On the island of Efate, harborside Port Vila serves as the nation’s capital and economic center. The city is home to the Vanuatu National Museum, which focuses on the country’s Melanesian culture.

As for the population, according to the 2020 census, Vanuatu has a total of approximately 300019 inhabitants, which is just about 50 percent the population of Noida in India. The Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) refers to the currency of Vanuatu, while the rest are being influenced by being a tax haven country with no income, corporate, or wealth tax, thus attracting vast investment opportunities and crypto enthusiasts. Visa-free access to over 120 countries, including the U.K. and European nations, is another major advantage of Vanuatu citizenship by purchasing a passport under a CBI program.