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In the latest development in the probe into the hospitalisation and subsequent death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the one-man Justice Arumughasamy Commission has summoned Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, and the UK-based Dr Richard Beale.
Summons have also been issued to Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai.
Dr Beale, an intensivist from the London Bridge Hospital, was regularly consulted by doctors at the Apollo Hospitals ever since Jayalalitha was admitted in September 2016.
Significantly, while the Commission has issued a summons to Dr Beale, it has put the onus on Apollo Hospitals to ensure that the specialist consultant appear via videoconferencing on 9 January.
The Commission, which was the result of a bargain between Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam – then warring factions within the ruling AIADMK, has been granted three extensions thus far since its constitution 16 months ago.
It is expected to file its final report before Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary on 24 February.
With several senior bureaucrats, close aides, household staff from Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence and multiple doctors testifying before the committee, new details have been reported from the time of her 75-day hospitalisation at Apollo Hospitals on Greenways Road in the city.
According to a bill summary submitted by the hospital to probe commission, the total cost of the treatment and other services amounts to Rs 6.86 crore, but only Rs 6.41 crore had been paid.
The 68-year old leader had also been suffering from diabetes and hypertension. She passed away on 5 December, 2016 after a cardiac arrest.
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