Lalit Modi to apply for fresh citizenship in Caribbean tax haven Saint Lucia

Lalit Modi, the former chairman and commissioner for Indian Premier League (IPL), has applied for a citizenship in Saint Lucia, a Caribbean island considered to be a tax haven, reported India Today on Monday. In March 2016, the tainted former IPL chief had applied for a citizenship in Malta, a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea. In May 2010, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a money-laundering case against Lalit Modi for alleged financial regularities in the IPL which led to him fleeing the country.

In March 2016, a special court had approved ED’s request of starting the extradition process against Lalit Modi. The court nod to ED was approved by Judge P R Bhavake of the sessions court. In fact, in August 2015, it was Justice Bhavake who had issued a non-bailable warrant against Modi in connection with the money laundering case.

An ED source had commented that they had forwarded a request to the Ministry of External Affairs who would be taking the case to the respective authorities in the UK.

Saint Lucia is considered to be one of the tax havens in the world were banking secrecy is of the highest standards. From reports it has been suggested that Lalit Modi has applied for citizenship for his entire family but the Caribbean Island is strict when it comes to issuing passports, according to India Today.

Saint Lucia has asked for a background check of Lalit Modi through Interpol so it seems highly unlikely that he and his family would be granted citizenship.

– Firstpost