MIC president S Samy Vellu's son, S Vell Paari - who in the past few days has been linked to the death of local drama actress K Sujatha - today denied the allegations, describing them as the work of "irresponsible persons".

"Whilst there is no truth in the allegations, the intent of the person or persons responsible is clear, to abet certain politicians (in getting) political mileage," said the businessman in a statement released late today.

Vell Paari, 44, is the chief executive office of Maika Holdings, which is MIC's troubled investment arm.

He said that he was aware of the malicious and defamatory statements made against him in "several of Tamil dailies and by unscrupulous politicians".

"I will make clear these statements in a press conference in due course, timed with my instituting civil and criminal proceedings against the papers and the persons concerned," he added.

Sujatha, 29, a former personal assistant to Vell Paari in Maika Holdings, died mysteriously on June 25 at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.

Last Friday, PKR supreme council member S Manikavasagam lodged a police report claiming that there were criminal elements involved in Sujatha's death.

He also claimed to have received an anonymous letter stating that Vell Paari was involved in the matter.

Tamil media coverage

Following that, several Tamil dailies have been carrying stories regularly - mainly in the front pages - calling on the police to investigate the matter.

Today, one of the dailies named Vell Paari for the first time, linking him directly to the police investigations. It also carried in its front page a news report about Vell Paari being questioned by the police on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Malaysiakini also quoted sources yesterday in saying that an unnamed minister's son had been questioned by the police as part of a probe into whether there was foul play in the actress' death.

In his statement today, Vell Paari - who is married to a popular Tamil singer cum lawyer - said that he was cooperating with the authorities.

He said he was also confident that his name would be cleared. He urged those "irresponsible persons" making the allegations not to cause anguish to him, his family and Sujatha's family.

"These persons are monsters who have no regard for the innocent and are prepared to go to any extent to propagate their malicious agenda against me at the expense of the innocent Sujatha, the deceased."