In a surprise development, attorney general G E Vahanvati on Monday appeared in the Supreme Court in a case on behalf of an Uttar Pradesh government body.

The Attorney General, the senior most law officer of the Centre, is free to choose cases outside the brief he holds for the government.

But significance is attached to his appearance for arguing the case of Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), an organisation that comes under government of Uttar Pradesh where Mayawati's BSP is in power, relating to green belt in posh Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow.

A fortnight ago Vahanvati appeared on behalf of the CBI in the Supreme Court when he had said the agency will consider Mayawati's plea for closure of disproportionate assets case in view of the favourable orders passed by the income tax department on the issue of wealth accumulated by her.