Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam also lodged several police reports alleging foul play in the death of Sujatha, who was personal secretary to Vell Paari when he was managing director of Maika Holdings.

Her death on June 25, 2007, at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang raised questions as to why she was taken there from her luxury condominium in Jalan Ipoh and not to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, which is minutes away.

It remains a mystery as to why Sujatha, who had everything going for her apparently committed suicide.
Police initially classified the case as sudden death but later said there were criminal elements linked to the case.

Barely two months after the death of Sujatha, who was also a singer, police recorded a statement from Vell Paari.

However, no one has been charged in the matter.

Vell Paari, in his first public statement after the incident, denied any involvement in her death, claiming that such allegations were made by several unscrupulous politicians and some Tamil dailies.

Sujatha had also acted in several Tamil dramas, movies and commercials.

Her last acting stint was in the Malay movie, Noorhalizah, and a local Tamil movie, Yantra, in which she played a supporting role.

Vell Paari denied rumours that he was romantically involved with Sujatha for a long time and that she had pressed him to marry her.

The businessman is married to popular singer Shaila Nair.

It was widely speculated that Sujatha had revealed on her deathbed the events that led to her death.

In August 2007, an English daily had reported that Sujatha had called her uncle, a businessman, two days before she was admitted to the hospital, sounding worried and allegedly telling him that people were trying to harm her.

Her death had also led to a defamation suit being filed by former Sentul OCPD, ACP K. Kumaran, against Manikavasa gam, Makkal Osai editor M. Rajintheram, the daily and its distributor in relation to a news report on the death of the actress, which allegedly defamed him.

Besides the RM10 million suit, Kumaran is also seeking damages for "tort of conspiracy" and aggravated and exemplary damages.

In his statement of claim, Kumaran alleged that the published article had caused serious damage to his credibility.

Manickavasagam failed in both his attempts to strike out the suit when the High Court dismissed his application with cost.

It is learnt that Manikavasagam had also asked the Bar Council to hold a watching brief during the inquest.
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Inquest on actress Sujatha’s death in March

By YENG AI CHUN

The Dtar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Magistrates Court has fixed March 16 to 18 for an inquest into the mysterious death of actress K. Sujatha two years ago.

Magistrate Mohd Faizi Che Abu, sitting as the coroner, set the three days for the hearing on Friday.

Sujatha, 29, had also worked as a secretary to S. Vell Paari, the Maika Holdings chief executive officer and son of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

The actress of several Tamil dramas, movies and commercials, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang three days after she was admitted on June 25, 2007.

She was believed to have swallowed weedkiller at her apartment in Sentul here.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Geethan Ram Vincent, who is assisting the coroner in the inquest proceedings, said seven to eight witnesses would be called to testify in the proceedings.

Among them is Dr S.P. Sakthiveloo, one of the general practitioners who had treated her at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.

Sujatha’s family was represented by lawyer Datuk K. Kumaraendran and lawyer Datuk S. Satharuban held a watching brief for Dr Sakthiveloo.

Also present during the proceedings was PKR supreme council member S. Manikavasagam, who said he was shocked by the delay of the inquest.

“I am shocked that after two years an inquest is called. It should have been called within a few days of her death.

“It is a clear cut case and the investigation officer had said the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code,” he said, adding that he is expecting to be subpoenaed as a witness.

Her death had resulted in Manikavasagam, who is also Kapar Member of Parliament, lodging a police report on Aug 8, 2007 on behalf of Sujatha’s family at the Brickfields police station and appealing to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to form a taskforce to investigate the case.

It also saw former Sentul police chief ACP K. Kumaran filing a lawsuit against Manikavasagam and three others in relation to a news report on her death which allegedly defamed him.

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NST

2009/02/14

Sujatha Inquest: Eight expected to testify next month

Sujatha, 29, died on June 25, 2007 at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, where she had been admitted four days earlier after swallowing weedkiller.

KUALA LUMPUR: The long-awaited inquest into the death of local actress K. Sujatha will start next month.

Yesterday, coroner Mohd Faizi Che Abu fixed three days from March 16 for the inquiry.

Deputy public prosecutor Geethan Ram Vincent informed the court that at least eight witnesses were expected to be called.

Present in court were Datuk K. Kumaraendran, who is holding a watching brief for Sujatha's family; Datuk S. Satharuban, counsel for Dr S.P. Sakthiveloo, who was one of the doctors who had treated Sujatha at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang, and S. Selvam, counsel for former Sentul OCPD Assistant Commissioner K. Kumaran.

Sujatha, 29, died on June 25, 2007, at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, where she had been admitted four days earlier after swallowing weedkiller.

Police initially classified the case as sudden death but later said there were some criminal elements linked to the case.

Sujatha, a singer, had also acted in several Tamil dramas, movies and commercials.

Her last acting stint was in local movies Noorhalizah and Yantra.

She was also the former personal secretary to the son of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Vell Paari, who was the managing director of Maika Holdings.

Geethan told the court that Dr Sakthiveloo would be called to take the stand, but they would not be calling Kumaran.

It is learnt that among the key players expected to be called to testify include Sujatha's brothers Ugenthiran and Surenthiran, her roommate G. Tanusha Nair, as well as Vell Paari.

When asked by Faizi if the counsel would be asking questions, Kumaraendran said it depended on the proceedings. "If and when it is necessary, we will ask questions to assist the court."

To this, Faizi said: "I would be very happy if the lawyers could forward their questions to the DPP first.

"But, then again, if the DPP asked for the lawyers' assistance to question the witnesses, you may do so."

Sujatha's death also led to a RM10 million defamation suit being filed by Kumaran against Kapar member of parliament S. Manikavasagam and a Tamil daily in relation to a news report on the death of the actress.

Manickavasagam failed in his attempts to strike out the suit when the High Court dismissed his application with cost.