New Delhi [India], March 11: Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Kumar Modi on Tuesday refuted reports claiming that an extradition notice had been issued against him, calling them “fake news.”
In a post, Modi questioned the authenticity of such reports, asserting that if there were any extradition proceedings, he would be aware of them. He emphasized that he has been living outside India for the past 15 years and has traveled to countries with which India has an extradition treaty. Modi further pointed out that if there was any notice, countries with such agreements would have already acted on it.
“What’s this so-called extradition notice on me the media keeps falsely claiming? I have been out of India for 15 years, traveling 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?” Modi questioned in his post.
He also shared a report from March 2017, which detailed how Interpol had denied India’s request to issue a Red Corner notice against him. This report highlighted that India’s request for Modi’s extradition was not supported by the international body.
The controversy surrounding Modi resurfaced earlier this week when Vanuatu News outlet Vanuatu Post reported that the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, had instructed the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission to start the process of canceling Lalit Modi’s citizenship. This came after some allegations made against Modi. Modi, however, referenced a separate report from VBTC News, which stated that the commission would wait for the outcome of court proceedings 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. If the court finds that Mr. Modi is guilty, the commission will start the process of canceling his passport and citizenship,” the VBTC News report quoted Chairman Charles Maniel as saying.
Lalit Modi also expressed his confusion, asking, “I too want to know which case is pending and in which exact court and exactly for what.”
In response to the situation, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat was quoted by Vanuatu Post saying, “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.”
Modi, who is currently based in London, had applied to surrender his Indian passport after acquiring Vanuatu citizenship through the country’s citizenship program.