Chennai: The Justice Arumughasamy Commission probing the hospitalisation and death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has expressed desire to question her close aide V K Sasikala, now in the Bengaluru prison after being convicted in a disproportionate wealth case. He has written to the prison authorities seeking access to the prisoner, sources said.
AIADMK seniors, including ministers, have said that Sasikala was completely in charge of all arrangements and decisions relating to Jayalalithaas treatment at the Apollo Hospital; some have also alleged she had prevented them access to their leader and even brushed aside suggestions she could be flown abroad for better treatment.
The Apollo leadership, however, has repeatedly insisted that the doctors and paramedics in the hospital had provided excellent treatment to Jayalalithaa — 'the best possible anywhere in the world', to quote hospital chairman Pratap Reddy.
Moving meticulously through the maze of depositions and petitions, Justice Arumughasamy has already examined about 130 witnesses, including doctors and officials connected with the subject under his scrutiny. The Commission had sent a letter to Sasikala in the Bengaluru prison last December seeking certain clarifications, to which she had responded with a 55-page sworn affidavit stating her version.
The Commission has now taken the decision to examine Sasikala in person so as to arrive at clearer picture and has written to the prison authorities in this connection, sources said.
