Jayalalithaa Hospital Video Submitted to One-Man Probe Panel

The video showing the late TN Chief Minister looking weak and frail was released a day before the RK Nagar bypoll

The RK Nagar seat has been vacant since the demise of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa last year.

(Photo: Rhythum Seth/The Quint)

A controversial video footage, purportedly showing late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa in a hospital, was, on 26 December, submitted to the one-man inquiry commission probing her death.

A CD containing the footage was made available to the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission, said rebel AIADMK leader P Vetrivel, who had released the video to the media a day ahead of the 21 December bypoll to the RK Nagar assembly constituency.

Vetrivel, a loyalist of sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, replied in the affirmative when PTI asked him whether he had submitted the CD of the video clip to the commission.

The release of the footage, showing a frail looking AIADMK supremo in a nightdress and sipping what appeared to be a health drink with a straw, came in for criticism from ruling party which alleged it was a “conspiracy” and a “demeaning” act with an eye on the bypoll.

Vetrivel had claimed that the video was shot by jailed party leader VK Sasikala, a close confidant of Jayalalithaa, at the request of the then chief minister and he released it in view of suspicions raised over the late leader's death.

The inquiry commission had filed a police complaint on 20 December itself seeking action against Vetrivel for releasing the video when the panel has started the inquiry.

The state government has appointed the one-man commission of inquiry to look into the circumstances leading to Jayalalithaa's death and treatment provided to her.

The commission, before which several persons, including Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa, have deposed so far, has recently issued summons to Sasikala and Apollo Hospitals asking them to provide information known to them regarding the hospitalisation and treatment.