RCom to claim cost, damages from RIL

In a reply to RIL, Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications stated that "RIL chooses to take any legal action, the same will be vigorously defended by RCom, and RCom will claim costs and damages from RIL.

RCom also stated that there is no question of taking note of any alleged rights on RIL's part.

"It is regrettable that RIL, for its own vested interests, is only seeking to disrupt the creation of one of the world's most valuable telecoms combinations, which would make over a billion Indians proud of our great country," it added.

The Anil Ambani group company also reiterated its earlier statement that "RIL's claim is legally and factually untenable, baseless and misconceived, to be dismissed with the contempt it deserves".

RCom also stated that the use of "threatening and coercive language by RIL" against South African telecom major MTN Group is "very unfortunate".

RIL's action in sending copies of the letter to a large number of banks and intermediaries, without even first communicating with RCom, further reflects its ulterior and mala fide motives.