Lalit Modi starts legal proceedings against Cairns to win 2.4 mln pounds in damages

Lalit Modi's lawyers have confirmed that the disgraced former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner has started legal proceedings against ex-New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns in a bid to regain about 2.4 million pounds in damages and costs needed in their 2012 court battle.

Media reports claim that Modi has also applied to the High Court in London to have the libel verdict won by Cairns in 2012 set aside on the grounds of fraud.

Cairns was awarded 90,000 pounds in damages after he successfully sued Modi for libel for accusing him of corruption while playing in the now defunct Indian Cricket League in 2008, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Cairns has been charged with perjury in relation to evidence he gave at that trial and his lawyer at the time, Andrew Fitch-Holland, has been charged with perverting the course of justice from that trial.

Cairns faces a further preliminary hearing in January with the trial expected next October.

These developments have spurred Modi, a former Indian cricket power broker, to go on the offensive.

Modi's lawyer, Rajesh Vyakarnam revealed that his client has issued proceedings to set aside the 2012 libel judgment on the ground of fraud and is claiming the return of all damages and costs paid which are in excess of 2.4 million pounds.

Vyakarnam said that Modi is still bound by the injunction awarded by Justice Bean and does not wish to prejudice the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) case against Cairns or Fitch-Holland. He added that Modi would therefore not make any further comments at this time.

The 2012 libel case was brought against Modi for allegations against Cairns he posted on Twitter. In this case, Justice Bean ruled that Modi singularly failed to provide any reliable evidence that Cairns was involved in fixing and damages were awarded, the report added.