Lalit Modi applies for citizenship in St Lucia: Reports

Lalit Modi applies for citizenship in St Lucia: Reports

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi and his family have applied for citizenship in Saint Lucia under its investment scheme in the Caribbean as it is said to be a tax haven. Modi is currently in the United Kingdom, where he has been staying for a while. He has various cases pending against him in the Indian courts. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently probing him for various money laundering activities during the 2012 edition of the IPL. The Indian government is trying their best to get Modi extradited to India to try him in an Indian court. READ: India strive to obtain Interpol arrest warrant for Lalit Modi

The documents of Modi applying for citizenship has been accessed by India today TV. St Lucia is said to be the one of the best tax havens in the world.

Indian investigative agencies recently decided to make a fresh bid to obtain the much-delayed Interpol arrest warrant against Modi after the Chennai Police recently submitted that it is actively pursuing its criminal probe against the former cricket czar and others. READ: Lalit Modi drops law suit against Chris Cairns

Officials said the Investigating Officer (IO) of the Crime Branch of Chennai police has informed the Finance Ministry and ED that it had registered an FIR against Modi and seven others in 2010 on charges of alleged financial irregularities on a complaint by former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President N Srinivasan which is “under investigation” and evidence is being gathered. READ: Lalit Modi has “beneficial interest” in 3 IPL teams: Niraj Gunde

It is likely that the IO of Chennai police would also approach a local court to seek Modi’s presence in the case as being sought by the ED in its money laundering probe.

(With inputs from PTI)