Controversial carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishian today conceded to allowing the hearing the suit against him filed by private investigator P Balasubramaniam's widow, A Santamil Selvi.

This comes after the High Court in Kuala Lumpur had struck out Santamil Selvi's RM1.9 million suit against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor and seven others, including Deepak, last year.

Deepak’s decision was relayed to the Court of Appeal this morning, with Deepak saying he was doing the right thing by allowing the suit to be heard.

The carpet businessman, who was not represented, said he would not contest the appeal by the widow.

His request was allowed by Court of Appeal judges Vernon Ong, Abdul Rahman Sebli and ‎Zamani Abdul Rahman.

Following this, ‎Santamil Selvi's lawyer Americk Sidhu said the matter has been remitted to the High Court for hearing.

With this, the widow's suit is now reinstated.

"The case has been fixed for mention at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, with the case management to be held on Oct 23," Americk told Malaysiakini .

Santamil Selvi ( photo ) and her two sons filed the suit for RM1.9 million in damages against the nine individuals in 2014, on grounds that her family had been 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.

Didn't appoint lawyers

“The defendants 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.

Santamil Selvi is appealing the KL High Court's decision in allowing the striking out and when the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court decision, Deepak did not enter an appearance.

This led to revelations from the carpet businessman that he had never appointed lawyer Gabriel Daniel and the firm M/s Paul Ong and Associates to represent him in the matter before the High Court.