Tens of millions go up in smoke for carpet dealer Deepak in Nilai blaze

Summary

• A 7am blaze at Nilai 3 in Negeri Sembilan has destroyed a huge carpet factory owned by controversial businessperson Deepak Jaikishan.

• Authorities say the fire took about an hour to be brought under control and no injuries have been reported.

• Deepak estimates his losses between RM30 million and RM40 million.

Controversial carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan suffered huge losses today when his carpet factory and showroom in Nilai 3 was destroyed in a 7am blaze.

According to news reports, the Negeri Sembilan Fire and Rescue Department received a call on the incident at 7.49am before they dispatched about 60 firefighters from four fire stations.

The incident caused thick smoke that could be seen from afar as officers tried to control the raging fire. They reportedly took about an hour to control the blaze.

“No casualty was reported in this incident. But it took some time before we could put out the fire because it involved carpets, besides other factors such as strong wind and thick smoke,” said department senior operations officer Khir Amir Ahmad, as quoted by Bernama.

According to Sinar Harian, at least 80 percent of the premises were destroyed.

Deepak when contacted confirmed to Malaysiakini that the factory involved was his.

‘10 years of work gone’

Still devastated by the incident, the businessperson claimed that his losses are estimated to range between RM30 million and RM40 million.

“We lost the entire building. My entire business is there. I’m completely destroyed.

“Whatever I have been working on for the last 10 years is completely finished,” he said.

Asked what may have caused the fire, Deepak suspected an electrical short circuit.

Deepak is a vocal critic of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

In 2022, he joined the political fray when Perikatan Nasional named him as a candidate for the Pulai parliamentary seat.

Earlier the same year, Deepak failed in his bid to reinstate a lawsuit against Najib and Rosmah when the Federal Court dismissed a review application by him, his brother J Rajesh, and their company, Carpet Raya Sdn Bhd, regarding a land deal that he alleged caused huge losses to his company.

They also failed in their multiple suits against Najib, Rosmah, former MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Bakti Wira Development Sdn Bhd, Boustead Holdings Berhad, and Cebur Megah Development Sdn Bhd.

Deepak has also been raking in viewer ratings in his tell-all-styled interviews alleging fraud, bribery, and murder conspiracies involving Najib and Rosmah, aired live on Jom Channel on Facebook.

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