Lalit Modi’s meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and Indian passport surrender
The man, the visionary, the mastermind — Lalit Modi — the force behind the Indian Premier League (IPL), has carved a legendary status for himself. Too much? Perhaps. But there’s no denying that it was his vision that gave rise to the IPL, a sporting spectacle — now treated as a festival — that continues to captivate fans with its unpredictable twists and turns, year after year.
Now, in 2025, the same man — who left India in 2010 — has filed an application with the Indian High Commission in London to surrender his Indian passport. It is known that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed this on Friday.
Let’s dive into the story of the man behind it all.
Initial days of Lalit Modi
Born in 1963, Lalit Kumar Modi comes from the influential Modi family, known for the Modi Group founded by his grandfather Gujarmal Modi in 1933. What started as a sugar mill soon expanded into industries like entertainment, beverages, and personal care.
Lalit studied Electrical Engineering and Business Administration in the US but didn’t complete his degree. His time there was marked by controversy — he was arrested for cocaine trafficking and second-degree kidnapping, receiving a two-year prison sentence, later reduced to 100 hours of community service.
Citing health reasons, he returned to India and joined his family business — a pivotal step in his journey from corporate heir to a controversial public figure.
Lalit Modi steps into business
Lalit Modi founded Modi Entertainment Network in 1993, bringing international programs to India. Recognizing the nation’s love of cricket and inspired by other sports leagues abroad, he created the IPL, a vibrant T20 format that combines cricket, sponsorships, and entertainment.
After the BCCI initially rejected his idea, Modi joined the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association and rose to become BCCI’s Vice President in 2005. In 2008, he launched the Indian Premier League (IPL), serving as its first chairman and playing a key role in its swift rise to fame.
Credit: X
When everything went downhill
The glitz and glamour of the IPL seemed to fuel Lalit Modi’s greed, leading to his most infamous scandal — the MSM-WSG facilitation fee scam. During his IPL tenure, MSM (now Sony) sought media rights, but BCCI claimed WSG Mauritius held them, demanding a Rs. 425 crore facilitation fee. MSM paid Rs. 125 crore to a Mauritius account, yet there was no valid BCCI-WSG deal — with Modi solely handling the negotiations.
The Enforcement Directorate suspects Modi may have profited from the payment. He also faced accusations of diverting IPL funds to friends and family, secretly making them team owners.
Adding to the controversy were his close ties with Rajasthan’s then-Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, with allegations of questionable financial dealings involving Raje’s son and a shell company in Mauritius.
Downfall continues
Lalit Modi was also accused of rigging IPL bids by adding unauthorized clauses to favour Videocon and Adani. He also breached confidentiality by tweeting the Kochi Tuskers Kerala’s shareholding details, leading to Shashi Tharoor’s resignation.
The Kochi franchise claimed Modi pressured them to give up their team so another group could win the bid — adding to his growing list of controversies.
Suspended as IPL chairman
Lalit Modi was suspended as IPL chairman in April 2010. He received a 34-page notice with 22 charges of impropriety. In 2013, BCCI’s disciplinary committee, led by Arun Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia, found him guilty of financial irregularities, misconduct, and actions against BCCI’s interests.
In 2018, the Enforcement Directorate fined BCCI, N. Srinivasan, and Modi Rs. 121.56 crore for violating FEMA rules when transferring funds for the 2009 IPL in South Africa, citing breaches of RBI guidelines.
Flees India
Lalit Modi has been wanted by Indian law enforcement since 2010 for financial irregularities and tax evasion. Following the pattern of high-profile escapes, Modi fled to the UK, citing threats from the underworld.
Interpol issued a light blue notice against him, meant to gather information for his arrest in India. The Enforcement Directorate pushed for a global warrant, but in 2017, Interpol rejected the request. Despite ongoing investigations, Indian authorities continued to explore ways to extradite him.
Surrenders his Indian passport
Now in 2025, he is still in the news, this time to surrender his Indian passport. He had left India in 2010 and is said to be have been living in London since then. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “He has made an application for surrendering his passport at the High Commission of India, London.”
“The same will be examined in light of extant 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,” he added.
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