Reliance vice chairman Anil Ambani continued his public silence over differences with his elder brother Mukesh, but the two siblings are believed to be consulting their legal experts.

The much-anticipated statement from Anil in response to the public declaration by Mukesh that as chairman and managing director he was the group's boss, did not materialise.

The Reliance 'ownership issue'

In fact, the younger Ambani did not turn up at a public function in Mumbai where he was slated to speak.

Sources in the two camps said that the brothers were separately consulting legal experts, which indicate that the battle may reach the courts.

There has been no meeting between the brothers ever since Mukesh returned from the US on Monday, the sources said.

Some political and religious leaders telephoned Kokilaben, widow of Dhirubhai Ambani, urging her to resolve the issue between the two brothers, they said.

Among those who called her include Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Digvijay Singh, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh Governor Sushil Kumar Shinde.