Alex Salmond has claimed Nicola Sturgeon "suggested" she would back mediation in a probe into sexual misconduct allegations against him.
The former First Minister then alleged his successor u-turned by deciding against intervening in the explosive case.
Salmond also said the Government’s behaviour had been a “disgrace” and claimed the bill for the taxpayer would cost “upwards” of £750,000.
A Holyrood Inquiry is examining how the SNP Government mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against Salmond.
He pursued legal action and it was accepted the internal Government probe had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.
The fiasco destroyed the long-standing friendship between Sturgeon and Salmond, whose allies believe he was the victim of a plot.
They believe Salmond was targeted as a way of foiling a political comeback, claims Sturgeon's allies flatly reject.
Salmond and Sturgeon are set to give evidence to the Inquiry this month.
A key issue for the Inquiry is what was discussed between Sturgeon and Salmond at meetings between the pair during the live investigation in 2018.
The First Minister told MSPs in 2019 she did not “intervene” in the process.
However, a submission to the Inquiry from Salmond claims an intervention was discussed.
Referring to the first meeting he had with Sturgeon in 2018, Salmond wrote:
“In the meeting of April 2nd the First Minister had suggested that she would intervene in favour of a mediation process at an appropriate stage.
“She subsequently decided against such an intervention. In the event, our proposals of 4th April 2018 seeking mediation were rejected by the Permanent Secretary [the Government's most senior civil servant] without them even being placed before the complainers as an option.”
The former SNP leader wrote that his suggestions of an alternative process were rebuffed, after which he pursued a judicial review:
“It remains a matter of deep regret that I had no option but to take the Scottish Government to the Court of Session. I did so very reluctantly and only after every other avenue had been exhausted.”
He added: “But courts exist for a reason. They exist because when Governments act illegally there must be a remedy for the citizen. In this case, the illegality was finally conceded but only after a legal process which will have cost upwards of £750,000 of taxpayers money and which caused immense strain and distress to all involved.
“The behaviour of the Government was, in my view, a disgrace. But actions have consequences. Accountability is at the heart of the Scottish Parliament. The rule of law requires that those who have acted illegally are held to account. It is now the job of this Committee to resolve how that is best done.
A major flaw in the Government probe was the contact the Investigating Officer had with the complainers..
Salmond wrote: “I am now aware from documents obtained by this Committee that the Investigating Officer’s behaviour involved contact with complainers before, during and after the procedure of a kind which would not stand any reasonable test of impartiality.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The points raised in this submission have been addressed previously. The First Minister looks forward to answering any further questions from the committee when she appears in person in due course.
“The First Minister had no involvement in mediation or any other aspect of the complaints handling.”
