Chennai: Vivek Jayaraman, CEO of Jaya TV and jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala’s nephew, on Tuesday appeared before the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probing former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation and death.
Vivek, who lived in the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa for long, will appear again before the Commission on February 28. The commission is understood to have asked Vivek to record his statement on the information available with him regarding the AIADMK leader’s death.
“I appeared before the Commission and since the proceedings are going on, I cannot comment on them in public. Let us wait. I will again appear before the Commission on February 28,” Vivek told reporters.
The Commission has also asked Dr P Balaji, who obtained the fingerprints of the late chief minister for the B-Forms submitted by AIADMK candidates in by-poll of Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Thiruparankundram in October 2016, to appear before it on Wednesday.
Vivek’s appearance assume significance since it comes days after his aunt Sasikala sought ten days time to submit an elaborate affidavit with her explanation on the statements made against her by witnesses who appeared before the Commission after receipt of their deposition through speed post.
Vivek, son of Sasikala’s sister-in-law Ilavarasi, was residing at the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa when she was alive. Since then, Vivek has been managing Jaya TV, Namadhu MGR and other companies owned by the Mannargudi family.
Vivek was also the cynosure of all eyes when Income Tax department targeted the Sasikala family in November by swooping down on premises owned by it. The raids at premises belonging to Vivek lasted a full five days.
A host of people, including Jayalalithaa’s former adviser Sheela Balakrishnan, former chief secretary Rama Mohana Rao, Sasikala’s niece Krishna Priya and Jayalalithaa’s former personal assistant Poonkundran, have appeared before the Commission and shared information on the former chief minister’s hospitalisation and death.
The commission has been mandated to inquire into the “circumstances and situation leading to the hospitalisation of the late Chief Minister on September 22, 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on December 5, 2016.”
