PKR supreme council member S Manikavasagam has challenged businessman S Vell Paari to initiate legal proceedings against him for public statements linking the latter to the mysterious death of actress K Sujatha.

"I'm challenging Vell Paari (to sue me)," said Manikavasagam in a press statement today, which included several fresh allegations against Vell Paari in connection to Sujatha's death.

Vell Paari ( photo ), 44, is the chief executive officer of Maika Holdings, which is MIC's troubled investment arm. He is also the son of MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu.

Sujatha, 29, was formerly Vell Paari's personal assistant in Maika Holdings. She was pronounced dead in a hospital in Klang on June 25. The circumstances of her death is uncertain, although there are press reports which state that she died from paraquat poisoning.

Following Sujatha's death, Manikavasagam lodged a police report on the matter upon receiving an anonymous letter alleging foul play in her death.

Subsequently, Manikagasagam made similar allegations when he handed a memorandum to the Bukit Aman national police headquarters, urging for an independent body to be established to investigate the case.

Both events were given prominence by the Tamil press.

In reaction to this, Vell Paari yesterday denied implied links between him and Sujatha's death. He also threatened to sue unspecified individuals and news organisations over the matter.

He claimed that the allegations against him were the works of those out to seek political milleage.

Luxurious lifestyle

In his faxed statement today, Manikavasagam also raised doubts as to how Sujatha maintained a luxurious lifestyle when she was publicly known only as a drama actress and Vell Paari's secretary.

"Sujatha's luxurious lifestyle - which included a luxury car and luxury condominium as 'gifts' - raises questions among the public..."

"Surely there is someone paying for such extravagance," said Manikavasagam.

Manikavasagam also reiterated his calls for an independent body which reports directly to the Inspector-General of Police to probe the incident due to doubts casts on the Sentul district police, which is investigating the case.

He claimed that the district police chief ACP K Kumaran was acquainted to Vell Paari, Samy Vellu and other MIC leaders and thus should not be involved in the case.

Contacted for clarification later, Manikavasagam said he had evidence to substantiate his claims in the press statement.

Police report by the OCPD

In another development, Kumaran today confirmed that he had lodged a police report to deny allegations in the anonymous letter which Manikavasagam gave the police.

"The author had a hidden agenda to tarnish my image," said Kumaran, who also described the letter as a "poison pen letter".

He added that he lodged the report on July 28, the day after Manikavasagam ( photo ) had lodged his report.

The anonymous letter had, among others, alleged that Kumaran was attempting to cover up the matter, an accusation which Kumaran had repeatedly denied to the press.

Investigations are presently ongoing. Vell Paari was among individuals that have already been called in for questioning. The police are also expected to speak to hospital authorities, Sujatha's friends, relatives and colleagues.