In a surprising turn of events, controversial carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishian has discharged his lawyer Gabriel Daniel and the firm M/s Paul Ong and Associates from representing him in a RM1.9 million suit filed by the widow of the late P Balasubramaniam against him and eight others.

Deepak, who came to the Court of Appeal registry himself for the case management today, personally conveyed his intention to the registrar.

“I never appointed them (Gabriel and M/s Paul Ong) in the first place and their appointment was organised by Johari Razak and the gang,” he told the registrar.

Deepak ( right ) also informed the registrar that he wanted to file for a motion to adduce further evidence regarding the matter.

“I will be appointing a new solicitor to act for me and to prepare the necessary paperwork,” he said, without expanding on what he meant.

Deepak when contacted by Malaysiakini denied making any reference to Johari but said he only told the deputy registrar that Gabriel (his lawyer) was appointed by a third party.

Following this development, the Court of Appeal registrar directed that all papers be filed within two weeks from today and fixed May 20 for case management.

Also present today was Americk Sidhu, representing Balasubramaniam's widow, A Santamil Selvi, and her two children.

Johari is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's younger brother.

He is a lawyer and partner at Shearn Delamore and Co and has also been named as a defendant by Santamil and her two children.

Suit to go on

Santamil ( below, left ) had sued the nine individuals, including the prime minister's family, in 2014 for RM1.9 million in damages for her family being forced into exile in India for nearly five years.

"The plaintiffs are claiming loss and damage occasioned as a result of being forcibly removed from Malaysia against their respective wills on July 4, 2008, allegedly arranged by threat and/or inducement, and perpetrated, by the defendants, who are alleged to have conspired with each other in ensuring the plaintiffs and the late PI Bala (private investigator Balasubramaniam) were evacuated from this country and made to reside in Chennai, India, for almost five years," Americk had said then.

However, on April 24 this year, the Court of Appeal allowed applications by Najib, his wife Rosmah, his younger brothers Johari and Nazim, along with senior lawyer Cecil Abraham and his son Sunil Abraham, lawyer M Arunampalam and Commissioner of Oaths Zainal Abidin Muhayat to strike out the notice of appeal.

Justice Mohd Zawawi Mohd Salleh also ordered Santamil ( pix, above ) to pay RM5,000 as costs to each of them. As such, she needed to fork out a total of RM40,000.

However, her suit against Deepak would go on as the businessman did not submit an application to strike out.

Deepak, when contacted by Malaysiakini , denied any reference to Johari but said he only told the deputy registrar that Gabriel (his lawyer) was appointed by a third party.