Vell Paari explains ‘bankruptcy’ email

The MIC leader clarifies an email circulating about a bankruptcy action against him.

PETALING JAYA: MIC publicity and communication chief S Vell Paari has clarified an email circulating about a bankruptcy action against him.

He said the case concerned a lawsuit filed by businessman Pradip Kumar for airfare cost amounting to less than RM100,000.

“I lost the case and subsequently filed an appeal. I also lost the appeal a few weeks ago,” he added.

Vell Paari said that prior to the appeal being disposed of, the other party had filed an action to initiate bankruptcy proceedings.

“They tried to serve the (bankruptcy) notice at the Maika building where my old office was located. But since the office was no longer there, they came to my house.“At that point of time, I was in Australia because my daughter was undergoing a surgery. Someone in the house had informed them that I was away,” he said.

Vell Paari said he found it odd that the other party then chose to serve the notice in subsitution when they knew he had a lawyer on record handling the matter.

“They knew I was in Australia, they could have waited for me to come back or serve the notice on my lawyer. They were dealing with my lawyer regarding the appeal at that time,” he added.

(A notice is served in substitution when the intended party cannot be located. Substituted service allows the process server to leave service documents with another individual, or leave it at the recipient’s home or office, or deliver it by post, or through public notice.)

Vell Paari said that he only came to know about the matter when it was reported in an English language daily recently.

“One of my lawyer’s clients chanced upon the report and told my lawyer about it. My lawyer called me last week and asked me if I was served with a notice… that was when I knew about it.

“Thank God, this person saw the news report and alerted my lawyer,” he said, adding that the outstanding sum had been deposited and the transaction was being handled by the lawyers.

Vell Paari said that he wanted to clear the air on this matter before those with an axe to grind with him used it to seek political mileage.

He also revealed that he had counter sued the businessman for more than RM500,000 on another matter related to the maintenance of a budget hotel.