Ex-judge to probe Jayalalithaa’s death

chennai — Sidelined AIADMK leader TT V Dhinakaran on Monday asserted that he was ready to submit before any probe agency, including Central Bureau of Investigation, a video shot by his aunt V K Sasikala of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, when she was in the hospital last year.

Dhinakaran said the video had not been released so far since Jayalalithaa was in a “nightie”.

His remarks came a day after the opposition led by the DMK called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the treatment and death of the former chief minister, citing a state minister’s recent remarks that AIADMK leaders “lied” about Jayalalithaa’s health during her hospitalisation.

“Amma (Jayalalithaa) had lost a lot of weight... it was a video shot by my aunt (Sasikala) herself. You all know none would have seen Amma in a nightie, not any functionary. Even when late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Amma following her accident in 1989, she was fully attired, she always maintained that dignity,” Dhinakaran said.

The video of Jayalalithaa, attired in a “loose nightie” was shot by Sasikala after the former was shifted from the ICU at Apollo Hospitals to a room, he told reporters here.

According to Dhinakaran, when the opposition had earlier raised doubts over Jayalalithaa’s treatment and death, Sasikala had herself suggested that “we ourselves should seek a judicial probe” into the matter.

“What she suggested was that we ourselves could seek a judicial probe where we can submit that video. If that video is released by us now, there would be a debate on its authenticity.

“So, we are ready to submit it at an appropriate forum, whether CBI or even Interpol. We have nothing to fear,” he said.

Over Chief Minister K Palaniswami ordering setting up of an inquiry commission, headed by a retired high court judge, to probe Jayalalithaa’s death, Dhinakaran said it was only an attempt to “convince” his now deputy O Panneerselvam, who had earlier raised doubts over the matter.

Panneerselvam had earlier demanded a probe into Jayalalithaa’s death. Dhinakaran said any commission probing the matter should be headed by a “senior sitting judge and not a retired one”.

Referring to DMK working president M K Stalin’s appeal for a CBI probe into the former chief minister’s treatment and death, Dhinakaran claimed such a demand was being made ever since the “wrong campaign” against Sasikala by them and others was fading.

“The wrong campaign against Chinnamma (Sasikala) does not exist anymore among people and therefore they are making all kinds of attempts,” he charged.

The opposition had on Sunday called for “unravelling the mystery” behind the death of the AIADMK supremo, who passed away on December 5 last year after 75 days of hospitalisation.

Forest Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan’s comments at a public meeting in Madurai on September 22 that AIADMK leaders had “lied” about Jayalalithaa’s health, fearing her aide Sasikala, has drawn flak from the opposition.

No one was allowed to meet the late chief minister. Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikala’s relatives that she was “all right”, he had said.

On Sunday also, Srinivasan said, “Sasikala and her family would tell us she (Jayalalithaa) ate idli, had coffee, was given sweets, did that and this... we told what she (Sasikala) said.”

Dhinakaran alleged Srinivasan was making such comments to save his position.

Training his guns against Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, he claimed they were “irked” at the “rousing reception” he receives from public and supporters and that is why his camp was being targeted.