The Supreme Court on Thursday started proceedings afresh on the gas dispute between companies owned by the two Ambani brothers, after having heard arguments for six days.
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) lawyer Harish Salve submitted a 25-page dossier on issues embedded in the costliest corporate legal battle.
Justice B Sudarshan Reddy, who does not have links with the stock market, took over from Justice RV Raveendran, who had investments in both companies. Raveendran’s immediate concern of propriety related to his lawyer daughter Sunitha Rajesh’s association with the AZB law firm, which advises the Mukesh Ambani group’s other projects.
He had received a telephone call from her, informing him that her Bangalore-based firm had been guiding the elder Ambani’s projects. He left the bench when Salve was about to conclude arguments, saying, “My conscience is clear.”
Raveendran’s absence from the bench of chief justice KG Balakrishnan and P Sathasivam was palpably felt as judges kept the arguments going by refraining from raising any searching query.
Anil Ambani-led Reliance Natural Resource Ltd (RNRL) lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who has been waiting to refute RIL’s claims since October 20, told the new bench, “I hope and pray that this bench continues to hear this matter.” He wanted 30 minutes to counter RIL’s arguments, saying Salve was advancing the stand contrary to what the company had taken in the Bombay high court.
“I should be allowed 10 to 30 minutes at the end ofthe day to make arguments, as the other side has argued exactly to the contrary before the HC,’’ Jethmalani added.
But Salve didn’t like Jethmalani’s intervention, saying he was not right in his accusation and should stop making interruptions. Salve’s comment further infuriated Jethmalani, who said, “I am interrupting by taking the court’s permission.’’
Jethmalani, who had accused the government of being hand-in-glove with RIL, said the concern “has got a new collaboration with the government”. Additional solicitor general Mohan Parasaran objected and Salve said such interruptions shouldn’t be accepted. “I want to make detailed arguments without interruption,” he said.
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