CHENNAI: Justice A. Arumughaswamy, heading the commission of inquiry (CoI) to probe the death of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, assumed charge on Friday and will begin his work on Monday by visiting the Poes Garden residence of the departed leader. The one-member CoI also asked people who have personal knowledge and direct acquaintance of the subject to submit documents or affidavits, if any, before November 22. The commission has been mandated to probe the circumstances that led to hospitalisation of the late chief minister on September 22, 2016, and subsequent treatment provided till her demise on December 5, 2016.
The ToR (terms of reference) is significant, as the CoI would also go into the circumstances that warranted Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation as there have been several allegations about “wrong treatment” being given to Jayalalithaa and reports of an “incident” at her Poes Garden residence on the day she was wheeled into the hospital. Arumughaswamy took charge at his office located in Kalas Mahal Heritage Building in Chepauk in the city on Friday and announced that he will conduct the inquiry in an “impartial manner.”
“All the questions will be answered in the probe,” he told reporters during a brief interaction. Sources said Justice Arumughaswamy is likely to visit the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa on Monday to seek information from people who had worked when the late chief minister was alive. They said since Jayalalithaa was shifted to hospital from her residence, it was imperative to know what happened before hospitalisation.
The CoI will have a tough time since there are demands from Opposition parties to questions the then finance minister O. Panneerselvam, who officiated as chief minister, his ministerial colleagues and doctors who treated the late chief minister. Immediately after he assumed office, the government issued an official order asking people to submit documents before November 22. “All those having personal knowledge and direct acquaintance on the subject matter of inquiry are at liberty to furnish such knowledge and information along with the relevant documents, if any, in the form of a sworn affidavit (three copies) relating to the matter under reference on or before November 22,” the notification said.
