Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi has acquired British citizenship after living in the UK for several years. He announced the development on Saturday, sharing pictures from his citizenship ceremony held at a Town Hall in London on September 15, 2026.
Modi said he had chosen to make the announcement during his address at the Oxford Union, describing it as a "very special and personal milestone". He also said the UK had been his home for many years and that he was proud to become a British citizen.
In a social media post on Saturday, Modi shared pictures from his citizenship ceremony. He said he had chosen to make the "very special and personal milestone" public during his address at the Oxford Union.
Modi left India in May 2010 after being suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid allegations of financial irregularities in the IPL. A special court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in 2015 after he failed to respond to summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
In July this year, an appellate tribunal set aside the penalty imposed on him in a separate FEMA case arising from the IPL's 2009 edition in South Africa.
Modi has strongly objected to being described as a "fugitive", arguing that he has not been convicted of any criminal offence.
"I am proud to be a British citizen," he said in his post on X.
"On 15 September 2026, surrounded by family and friends, I celebrated my British citizenship at a ceremony that will always hold a special place in my heart. 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," he said.
Modi described his British citizenship as a "privilege and a responsibility that I embrace with pride, gratitude and a genuine sense of belonging".
He said, "My life's journey has been shaped by different cultures and experiences, and I look forward to continuing to contribute positively to the country I proudly call home."
"Thank you to my family, friends and everyone who has been part of this journey, and to the Oxford Union for providing such a memorable occasion to share this news. A new chapter, with much to look forward to," he added.
Modi's post concluded with a reference to his announcement coinciding with Britain's King Charles III's 78th birthday, which falls on November 14. "And on His Majesty King Charles III's birthday, a particularly special day to share this moment. God Save the King!," he wrote on X.
(With inputs from PTI)
