Lawyer-politician Kapil Sibal had a busy, busy morning. One the one had he had fulfil his professional obligations -- represent one of the richest businessmen of India in the Supreme Court. And on the other, Kapil Sibal had to be a Congress leader and attack that very same businessman. This morning, Kapil Sibal appeared for Anil Ambani in a contempt case. Ericsson India has filed a contempt petition against Anil Ambani over unpaid dues. Ericsson India is contending that Anil Ambani's Reliance Communication (RCom), which recently filed for bankruptcy, violated Supreme Court orders by not clearing its dues. Today, Anil Ambani personally appeared in the Supreme Court where he was represented by prominent lawyer and Congress leader Kapil Sibal. Meanwhile, just before the Supreme Court opened for business, Kapil Sibal donned the politician's hat and used Anil Ambani's name to attack the Narendra Modi government over the controversial Rafale deal. "It seems Airbus, French Government, Anil Ambani all knew that the PM will sign an MOU on his visit to France between 9th and 11th April, 2015," Sibal said in a tweet. Two hats, too many arguments. Scene 1: Kapil Sibal appear for #AnilAmbani, urges #SupremeCourt to exempt his personal appearance Scene 2: Sibal tweets, slams #AnilAmbani. pic.twitter.com/fmB7dUtLMz February 12, 2019 Along with the tweet was a letter purportedly written by an executive of the European aerospace company Airbus. The email is being used by Congress as proof that Anil Ambani knew that India was going to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy Rafale jets before the MoU was formally acknowledged or announcement. (Read more about the new Rafale email controversy here.) Now, Kapil Sibal's fleet-footed politician-to-lawyer hop did not go unnoticed. Some Twitter users poked fun at the Congress leader. When Anil Ambani’s lawyer Kapil Sibal is attacking Anil Ambani then we must believe him! Liberal Of New Delhi (@LiberalsOfDelhi) February 12, 2019 "Mr Kapil Sibal lives the Grand Life, take massive money from Anil Ambani to defend him in SC as his lawyer. Then in public attack Anil Ambani as a politician, make massive gains in Congressm," one user said. Mr Kapil Sibal lives the Grand Life, take massive money from Anil Ambani to defend him in SC as his lawyer. Then in public attack Anil Ambani as a politician, make massive gains in Congress. Life ?? Ishkaran Singh Bhandari (@Ish_Bhandari) February 12, 2019 While you attack A Ambani, your top lawyer defends him, I mean Kapil Sibal. Are you NOT a big hypocrite? Money to be made, whichever way it happens. Your dirty tactics ensure that. But then that is what one parivaar power for decades does - kills democracy. @sambitswaraj February 12, 2019 Meanwhile, another wondered what would happen if Kapil Sibal mixed up his scripts. Kapil Sibal appeared as lawyer in Court for Anil Ambani today, also attacked him outside Court today. Imagine if one day he mixes up his statements and stands in Court and says- Judge saab, mera client chor hai!!! Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) February 12, 2019 One Twitter user helpfully pointed out that perhaps Kapil Sibal could keep the political separate from the professional.<doc-sep>The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday lashed out at Congress leader Kapil Sibal for defending businessman Anil Ambani in court, even as the Opposition party attacks him in public over the offset contract granted to him in the Rafale deal. Sibal on Tuesday appeared as an advocate for Reliance Communications, in a hearing in the Supreme Court on a contempt plea filed by Ericsson India, which has alleged that his firm owes dues worth Rs 550 crore. BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao claimed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre on the Rafale deal because Ambani could not secure any benefit under the National Democratic Alliance government, whereas it had won favours when the United Progressive Alliance was in power, PTI reported. He accused Gandhi and the Congress of “fake propaganda”. “The entire Congress leadership has very close proximity with the company that they allege had benefited in the Rafale deal,” Rao said. “Now they show some fake distance from that company but that stands exposed with Kapil Sibal openly backing that company in many cases.” Earlier on Tuesday, Gandhi had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed “treason” by acting as a middleman for Ambani in the Rafale deal. Quoting from an email written by an Airbus executive to a French official, Gandhi claimed that Ambani was aware of the Memorandum of Understanding before India and France signed it in 2015. However, Reliance Defence, the firm which secured the offset contract for the deal, refuted the allegations. Reliance Defence said the “proposed Memorandum of Understanding” cited by Gandhi refers to its collaboration on the Airbus Helicopter deal and not the Rafale jet deal.<doc-sep>
It seems Airbus , French Government , Anil Ambani all knew that the PM will sign an MOU on his visit to France betw… https://t.co/e7uWvye0sV — Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) 1549945276000 NEW DELHI: Congress MP and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal attacked industrialist Anil Ambani on the same day he defended him in court, a 'role conflict' that saw the ruling BJP accuse him of taking two contradictory positions.With morning headlines indicating that Rafale would again be the opposition focus on Tuesday, Sibal put on his Congress hat to slam Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ambani. "It seems Airbus, French government, Anil Ambani all knew that the PM will sign an MoU on his visit to France between 9th and 11th April, 2015. This government's lies exposed," he tweeted.Within minutes, Sibal was inside the Supreme Court appearing for Ambani in a contempt petition filed against Reliance Communication by Ericsson India.BJP spokesperson and Supreme Court lawyer Nalin Kohli said, "There is no restriction on a senior advocate appearing in any matter. However, the apparent conflict in Sibal's two positions on Anil Ambani bring into focus questions of propriety that need to be addressed both by the advocate and his political leaders. "However, Sibal saw no contradiction in his jibe at Ambani who forms the core of Congress's corruption charge in the Rafale defence deal, and his role as the latter's defence attorney. "I was representing Reliance Communications against Ericsson and this has nothing to do with Rafale. This is a corporate fight and Anil Ambani is the MD. I have been appearing for them for 20 years," Sibal said.Congress tried to play down Sibal's act. "His political stand is clear: that there is corruption in Rafale deal and the PM is responsible for it, with Ambani being its beneficiary. Sibal appeared in the other case (Ericsson) in his professional capacity as a lawyer. His political stance is clear and there is no contradiction," AICC spokesman Randeep Surjewala said.