Madras High Court queries Jayalalithaa's thumb impression on poll paper

Chennai: The Madras High court has directed the Principal Secretary of the Election Commission of India to appear before the court on October 6 and submit documents relating to the thumb impression affixed by former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on poll papers of her party member.

Her thumb impression, taken while she was undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospitals , had authorised party candidate A.K. Bose to contest the bypoll to the Thirupparangundram Assembly constituency in November last year.

When a petition filed by a defeated candidate P Saravanan of DMK came up for hearing, Justice Velmurugan passed the interim orders directing KF Wilfred, principal Secretary of ECI to appear before the court. Saravanan filed the petition challenging Bose’s election.

And, in an additional affidavit, he questioned the validity of the election documents. Saravanan alleged that Jaya’s thumb impression was obtained without her consent and knowledge since was unconscious during the treatment. This was done with the connivance of the doctors and others, he claimed.