Alleging defamation, suspended Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi issued proceedings for libel against England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Giles Clarke in the London High Court.

Modi said in a statement that he has complained of "defamatory allegations made in an e-mail sent by ECB chairman Clarke on May 2, 2010 to BCCI chief Shashank Manohar and others."

Clarke had sent the e-mail detailing what he described as Modi's plan to "destroy English cricket", which had led to the second show cause notice issued to Modi by the BCCI.

In his mail, Clarke had alleged that Modi was planning to destroy English cricket by setting up a rebel league in England in contravention of the International Cricket Council regulation.

But Modi claimed that he has already refuted the allegations and has "made it clear in the detailed submissions made to the BCCI on May 31, 2010."