Published: Oct 31, 2012, 05:42 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 31, 2012, 05:42 PM (IST)
Lalit Modi had lost the libel case against Chris Cairns in March this year © Getty Images
New Delhi: Oct 31, 2012
Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi on Wednesday lost his appeal against a court verdict, which directed him to pay £90,000 damages to former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns.
The Lord Chief Justice (Court of Appeal) on Wednesday rejected criticisms of judge’s reasoning and asserted that the money was proportionate to the seriousness of allegation and impact on Cairns, according to reports.
“We reject the criticisms of the judge’s reasoning or of the total award based on a starting point of £75,000 with the £15,000 uplift directly linked to the conduct of the hearing,” the verdict read.
“In our judgment they were proportionate to the seriousness of the allegation and its direct impact on Mr Cairns himself and will serve to vindicate his reputation. The appeal is accordingly dismissed,” it added.
Earlier, Modi lost a libel case to Cairns in March 2012 and will have to pay 90,000 pounds (app Rs 73 lakhs) in damages to the all-rounder.
Neither party was present when the verdict – which is open to appeal – was announced in the High Court in London.
Modi had accused Cairns of being involved in match-fixing during the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2008.
The embattled administrator will now have to cough up a part of the damages within the next 28 days and has until April 20 to file an appeal.
“Your client is a man of some means, you’ll need to persuade me on a stay,” the court said when Modi’s lawyer asked for a stay on damages.
Cairns was captain of Chandigarh Lions in the Indian Cricket League but his contract was terminated in October 2008, during the third edition of the tournament. The official reason given was that Cairns had breached the terms of his contract by failing to disclose an ankle injury.
(With inputs from PTI)
