Ready to reveal truth to J Jayalalithaa panel, says O Panneerselvam

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said he was ready to appear before the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission probing the hospitalisation and death of J Jayalalithaa and “explain the truth”.

The AIADMK Coordinator said he was earlier summoned by the one-man commission to appear before it on January 23 but could not do so in view of the Global Investors’ Meet. He had informed the commission accordingly in writing, OPS told reporters here.

“I had informed (the panel) that I would appear later on a date mentioned by the commission,” he said in reply to a question, while recalling that the commission subsequently adjourned the matter.

“Whenever the Commission summons me, I will (appear before it and) explain the truth and my stand. The truth will be known there,” said OPS, who was holding office as the Chief Minister at the time of Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation and demise in December 2016. Also, he was among the many who had then raised serious doubts over the circumstances leading to her death.

Following hard differences with Sasikala and family, OPS performed his mouna-vratham by the Marina suddenly one evening early February 2017 and resigned as CM blaming the Mannargudi family for his woes. He also demanded either a judicial inquiry or CBI probe into Amma’s death. This demand for probe became a pre-condition for OPS to later merge his faction with the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, the successor CM in August 2017.

The government notified the constitution of the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission to inquire into the circumstances leading to the hospitalisation of Jayalalithaa on September 22, 2016 and her treatment at the Apollo Hospital till her demise on December 5 that year.

The probe panel has already examined over 104 people, including state health minister Dr C Vijayabaskar, health secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan and the representatives of the Apollo Hospital.

The panel is expected to submit its report by February 24.