The Asian Age

CCTVs were turned off during Jaya stay: Apollo

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

There is no

CCTV footage of former chief minister Jayalalith­aa during her 75- day treatment at Apollo Hospitals as all the CCTV cameras in the ICU were switched off, Dr Prathap Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals, disclosed on Thursday.

“Unfortunat­ely, they ( Jayalalith­aa’s attendants) switched off all the CCTVs for all the 75 days. As soon as she got admitted, the access to the ICU was closed. All patients were shifted to another ICU. Only one out of 24 rooms in the ICU was used by the CM. They removed the cameras because they did not want everyone to be watching,” he said.

Dr Reddy also added that no visitors were allowed to meet her.

Dr Reddy’s revelation contradict­s Sasikala’s affidavit before the Justice Arumugaswa­my Inquiry Commission probing Jayalalith­aa’s treatment.

In the affidavit, Sasikala had claimed that Jayalalith­aa was videograph­ed in a lucid state four times in the hospital — she reportedly claimed that she had made the video as per Jayalalith­aa’s wishes — and that senior AIADMK leaders, including O. Panneersel­vam and M. Thambidura­i, had met her.

There is no CCTV footage of former chief minister Jayalalith­aa during her 75- day treatment at Apollo Hospitals as all the CCTV cameras in the ICU were switched off, Dr Prathap Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals disclosed on Thursday.

“Unfortunat­ely, they ( Jayalalith­aa’s attendants) switched off all the CCTVs for all the 75 days. As soon as she got admitted, the access to the ICU was closed. All patients were shifted to another ICU. Only one out of 24 rooms in the ICU was used by the CM. They removed the cameras because they did not want everyone to be watching,” he said.

Dr Reddy also added that no visitors were allowed to meet her. “In the hospital we follow a simple policy. No one is allowed in the ICU, except close relatives for a short time. Since she was critical, we did not permit. But relatives have an option to ask for some people. The doctor who is on duty can allow,” he said. Dr Reddy’s latest revelation contradict­s Sasikala’s so- called affidavit before the Justice Arumugaswa­my Enquiry Commission probing the Jayalalith­aa treatment, that some officials and ministers had met Jayalalith­aa. In the affidavit, Sasikala had claimed that Jayalalith­aa was videograph­ed in a lucid state four times in the hospital — she reportedly claimed in the affidavit that she had done the video as per Jayalalith­aa’s wishes — and that senior AIADMK leaders, including O. Panneersel­vam and M. Thambidura­i, had met her. Both the leaders have denied this and insisted they had not met their leader any time during her hospitalis­ation.

Dr Reddy, speaking on the sidelines of a press conference, said that all medical records along with the hospital’s report had been submitted to the Justice Arumugaswa­my Comm- ission and he would not be able to comment any further. “If they call us, we are ready to appear before the Commission. Unfortunat­ely we lost her in spite of giving her the best possible treatment,” Dr Reddy said.

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