Upset at Communications Minister Kapil Sibal's move to engage a private lawyer to argue a 2G case in the Supreme Court, overlooking government law officers, Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam, second top law officer of the country, offered his resignation to the Law Minister Veerappa Moily, who, however, turned down the offer.
According to informed sources, Mr. Subramaniam was shocked when he came to know that a senior advocate had been engaged by Mr. Sibal to defend the 2G case, arising from an application filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan alleging that he (the Minister) showed favours to Reliance Telecom in the levy of penalty.
The sources said Mr. Subramaniam, who has been appearing in the 2G cases, conveyed the message that it would be an embarrassment for him to appear along with the advocated appointed by Mr. Sibal as he was junior to him. However, Mr. Moily gave an assurance that he would sort out the matter and refused to accept the resignation offer. Mr. Subramaniam could not be reached for his comments.