Elon Musk has subpoenaed his friend and former Twitter chief Jack Dorsey as part of his effort to back out of the £37 billion take-over deal, according to reports.
Twitter and the Tesla entrepreneur are heading for a trial in Delaware that should determine whether or not Twitter can force the billionaire to go through with the acquisition.
Mr Dorsey, who resigned as Twitter’s chief executive in November and left the board in May, was asked for documents and communications about Musk’s April agreement to buy the company and about spam accounts on the platform, according to US court filings.
Twitter has subpoenaed several tech investors and entrepreneurs connected to Musk as part of the legal wrangling.
Mr Dorsey had supported Musk’s buyout offer for Twitter and has also tweeted that he believes Twitter is held back by the advertising model.
Musk, among the world’s richest people, has claimed that Twitter failed to provide adequate information about the number of fake, or "spam bot", Twitter accounts and cited that as a reason in backing out of the takeover.
However, Twitter has denied the claims and argues that Mr Musk’s reasons for backing out are just a cover for buyer’s remorse.
Musk told Twitter in July he was ending the agreement to buy the company for $54.20 (£46) per share because he alleged Twitter had violated the deal contract.
Twitter and Musk have since sued each other, with Twitter asking a judge on the Delaware Court of Chancery to order Musk to close the deal.
A five-day trial is set to start on October 17.
