Chennai: Over 12 MPs owing allegiance to former chief minister O.Panneerselvam on Tuesday met President Pranab Mukherjee and demanded a "high-level" probe by the Union Government into the circumstances that led to the death of J Jayalalithaa.
AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan, who led the delegation, also sought to know who authorised Apollo Hospital to go in for "cessation of treatment," to allow natural cessation of life after Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on December 4.
"Under normal circumstances, permission is obtained from blood relatives to stop treatment. Since none of late madam's blood relatives were present, we should know whose permission was sought by the hospital management?" he asked. Mr Maitreyan's comments come five days after Apollo Hospitals told the Madras High Court that they allow natural cessation of life for Jayalalithaa.
Justifying the delay in raising the issue, Mr Maitreyan said they did not talk about the "mystery" in her death since that would led to violence in TN on her funeral day.
Alleging that the state government was not interested in clearing doubts on Jayalalithaa's death, Mr Maitreyan said an inquiry by the state government would not serve any purpose since Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami seems to be disinterested in any such probe.
"Hence we sought steps for instituting a probe, which can be a judicial inquiry, or a CBI probe. We have left the President to decide whether it should a judicial inquiry or a probe," Mr Maitreyan said.
Questioning the need for admitting late Jayalalithaa to hospital for fever and dehydration since her Poes Garden residence has "mini hospital and ICU set-up", Mr Maitreyan said people have "many suspicions and doubts over her death".
"Ever since Jayalalithaa passed away in December, there has been doubts about it among party cadres and general public. We have requested the President to look into the issue and order a central government probe into her death to reveal the truth," he said.
Mr Maitreyan also sought to know why even seniors like Mr Panneerselvam and BJP leaders like Amit Shah and Arun Jaitely were not allowed to meet Jayalalithaa during her 75 day stay at the hospital.
