Enquiry commission probing Jaya’s death issues notice to Apollo

The commission has been recording testimonies of those who were associated with Jayalalithaa and the medical professionals, who cared for her prior to her demise. 

The commission has seen over 100 witnesses depose before it with over 70 witnesses cross-examined by VK Sasikala’s counsel Raja Senthoor 

Pandian. 

The commission took umbrage to the no show and delay by some doctors and technical staff of Apollo Hospitals, where Jayalalithaa received 

treatment. 

In a note to the Chairman Dr Pratap Reddy, the commission said, “Take note that your hospital doctors, who had given treatment to Hon’ble late chief minister J Jayalalithaa are asked to appear before this Commission on their respective dates in a phased manner. Even in the previous hearings, some of them have not appeared before the commission and have been condoned leniently. You are hereby directed to depute the doctors and Technician, to appear before this Commission without any technical objections.”

Apollo Hospitals previously stated that its requests to the commission to provide notice a week in advance as summons on short notice clashed with doctors and technicians’ prior appointments and affected patient care. 

Jayalalithaa spent 75 days at the hospital following her admission on September 22, 2016 after taking ill at her residence in Poes Garden. She passed away on December 5, 2016.