Chennai: Justice A. Arumughasamy Commission probing the hospitalisation and death of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Friday issued summons to her jailed confidante V. K. Sasikala and Apollo Hospitals chairman Prathap Reddy asking them to share information in writing or evidence that they are in possession of.
While Sasikala, currently serving four-year jail term in disproportionate assets case in a Bengaluru prison, has been given 15 days to submit her written response, the Commission has asked Prathap Reddy and his daughter Preetha Reddy to hand over documents relating to Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation within 10 days.
Sources said Sasikala is likely to send her response in line with the assertion by her family that she will cooperate with the judicial commission to clear the air and might also attach the video of Jayalalithaa taken during her hospital stay as evidence. Sasikala’s supporter and disqualified legislator P. Vetrivel released the video to the media on Wednesday that brought divisions within the Mannargudi clan with a few members objecting to release of the clip.
They said since Sasikala is in prison, any response from her will have to be elicited with the permission of jail authorities. It is to be wait and seen whether Justice Arumughasamy will accept the video clip as an evidence, since the commission has already rejected it as “fabricated and fake video” in a complaint filed against Vetrivel with the Chennai police.
Will handover documents: Apollo hospital
Apollo Hospitals said it was ready to hand over all documents relating to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation right from her admission on September 22, 2016, to her death on December 5, 2016. The hospital has been maintaining that it was open for any kind of scrutiny and would make available every document before government authorities.
The commission has so far summoned many top officials who were part of the secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao - to examine them. A number of people have Jayalalithaa administration — her advisor Sheela Balakrishnan and sacked chief also sent documents and affidavits relating to Jayalalithaa's death to the commission.
