‘Proud to be British’: fugitive Lalit Modi gets British citizenship
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London: IPL scam accused and fugitive Lalit Modi has acquired British citizenship, nearly 16 years after leaving India amid allegations of financial wrongdoing, according to the Times of India.
The former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman announced on September 15 that he had become a British citizen, sharing the news during an address to the Oxford Union. He celebrated with family and friends at a citizenship ceremony in the United Kingdom for years.
In a post on X, Modi described Britain as his home and said he embraced citizenship with pride and gratitude.
"The United Kingdom has been my home for many years. It is a country I have come to admire and appreciate deeply — its people, institutions, traditions and values. Becoming British is a privilege and a responsibility that I embrace with pride, gratitude and a genuine sense of belonging," he wrote.
He thanked the Oxford Union for the opportunity to announce the development, which coincided with King Charles III’s birthday.
Modi left India in 2010 after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) removed him as IPL chairman. His departure followed allegations of financial irregularities, including bid rigging, money laundering, and violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The Enforcement Directorate has investigated alleged irregularities and unauthorised fund transfers linked to the IPL. Indian authorities have also pursued extradition-related processes.
Modi has repeatedly rejected being labelled a fugitive, arguing that he has not been convicted of a crime and is not evading Indian authorities. In an interview with ANI earlier this year, he challenged investigators to prosecute him if there was evidence against him and questioned why years of inquiries had not brought him before a court.
He has said he no longer feels obliged to return to India to prove himself and alleged that political opponents have repeatedly targeted him. His acquisition of British citizenship comes as allegations linked to his IPL tenure remain under legal and regulatory scrutiny.