Progressive Labour Party politicians Zane DeSilva and Marc Daniels are involved in a legal row regarding a business matter.

Opposition backbencher Mr DeSilva filed a writ in the Supreme Court on July 19 against two companies owned by Mr Daniels: CC Corporate Services Ltd and MG Group Holdings Ltd (formerly Charter Group Holdings Ltd).

Mr DeSilva, who is represented in the case by One Bermuda Alliance MP Mark Pettingill’s law firm, told The Royal Gazette he preferred not to discuss the issue at present.

“It’s a business matter; personal,” he said. “I’d prefer to leave that right now.”

Mr Daniels, the Opposition Senate leader, said: “MP Desilva has been threatening a law suit for over one year. However, I did not appreciate that he had actually filed one.

“I guess my position will become clear when I file my defence, should it not be struck out beforehand for an abuse of process.

“I can only assume it has to do with an investment MP DeSilva made to CC Corporate Services Ltd, which was a corporate administration business that was incorporated when MP Pettingill and I set up a partnership in our previous law firm.”

He said he found the “whole matter curious”.

Mr Daniels added: “The whole episode is politically motivated, more than anything else.”

On the parliamentary Register of Interests, Mr Daniels lists himself as director and president of Charters Chambers Group Holdings Ltd and CC Corporate Services Ltd.

He launched Charter Chambers Bermuda with Mr Pettingill in May 2011 but the latter resigned and left the business after becoming Attorney-General at the end of 2012.

This newspaper understands that the writ seeks an order from the court requiring Mr Daniels to produce financial statements for CC Corporate Services.

Mr DeSilva is believed to have invested less than $200,000 in the company several years ago.

Mr Daniels, a criminal lawyer, is now head of litigation at Marc Geoffrey Barristers & Attorneys Ltd.

Mr Pettingill said he had no comment on the case.

Former Cabinet Minister Mr DeSilva is himself named as a defendant in an entirely separate writ at the Supreme Court.

HSBC filed the civil proceedings against Darius Tucker, a former United Bermuda Party MP who crossed the floor to the PLP, and Mr DeSilva on July 6.

Mr DeSilva said the matter related to a mortgage and he was named as a defendant because he backed Mr Tucker for a loan a couple of years ago.

It wasn’t possible to reach Mr Tucker for comment yesterday.

An HSBC spokeswoman said: “It is HSBC’s policy that we do not discuss matters before the court.”

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases.