After Jethmalani produced letters written by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to the Union Government, which incriminated Reliance Industries' contentions in the Supreme Court, he seems to have successfully put RIL and the Government on the defence.

He also sought certain documents from the Ministry of Power and the cross examination of the Union Minister for Petroleum and the ministry in addition to the right to inspection and discovery under the Evidence Act.

Jethmalani wants to establish the absence of a clause on gas pricing to be supplied from the KG Basin to Reliance Natural Resources Limited. He also sought the minutes of the meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers where the Ministry of Power had made a presentation on gas pricing.

Salve's protests saying that the documents were stolen from the ministry were effectively responded to when Jethmalani retorted, "stolen evidence is admissible in law". Jethmalani's demands triggered abrasive responses from RIL counsel Harish Salve and Additional Solicitor General, Mohan Parasaran, starting a mud-slinging contest.

The matter is scheduled for hearing on December 1.

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