One-man panel issues summons to AIIMS experts

The doctors, who were part of a team of experts who were consulted on the treatment provided to Jayalalithaa, are to appear before the commission on August 23 and 24 at Kalas Mahal where the death probe is going on. Pulmonologist Dr GC Khilnani, cardiologist Dr Nitish Naik and anaesthetist Dr Anjana Trikha have been sent summons by the Inquiry Commission.

The team from AIIMS were experts who were called on to aid the treatment of the late chief minister. Dr Richard Beale, a UK-based intensivist, was another advisor to the team of doctors at Apollo Hospitals. Since the setting up of the Commission, there have been calls for Justice Arumughasamy to send summons to Dr Beale to gather his testimony. With the summons to the doctors at AIIMS, it remains to be seen if the one-man Inquiry Commission will next turn its attention to the role of Dr Beale. Dr Beale had conducted a press conference on February 6, 2017, two months after the death of Jayalalithaa to discuss her illness and treatment provided for the same.

The Commission is set to submit its final report on October 24 this year. Over 50 individuals have deposed before the one-man Commission thus far.