Paternity claim: Apollo Hospitals tells HC no biological sample of Jayalalithaa stored

The Apollo Hospitals, where former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was admitted for 75 days in 2016 until her death, on Thursday informed the Madras High Court in a 'paternity suit' it did not have any biological samples of Jayalalithaa. The court had asked the hospital if it had stored any biological sample of the late AIADMK leader so as to decide on ordering a DNA test to ascertain if they matched with that of a Bengaluru-based woman Amrutha, who claimed to be Jayalalithaa's biological daughter, born out of wedlock.

Jayalalithaa remained a spinster until death though she did have an affair with Telugu actor Shoban Babu in the 1970 and early 1980s.

The 37-year-old woman had claimed that she was unaware till Jayalalithaa's death that she was her daughter. She claimed to have met the late leader on a few occasions in Bengaluru and Chennai but was unable to provide any photographic evidence of the same.

An affidavit filed by the Apollo Hospitals' manager (Legal) said that Jayalalithaa's medical condition was challenging to treat due to multiple co-morbidities. “In view of the same, all biological samples collected from her were used to run a battery of tests to rule out and/or confirm various medical conditions. All biological samples collected from her were used up completely during her treatment period,” he said adding that no sample was stored.

The judge adjourned the case to June 4 for further hearing.