Justice Arumughaswamy may visit VK Sasikala in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail

A source revealed that the commission had earlier sent summons to various people with regard to its enquiry into the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Sasikala is being represented by her counsel Raja Senthoor Pandian who had lodged two applications on January 5 and January 13. The first application requested names of witnesses and evidence produced against his client during enquiry - on the receipt of which the counsel is seeking 15 days to respond to the statements. The second application requested cross-examination of witnesses who have deposed thus far, per the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.

“Justice Arumughaswamy reportedly feels that this could be a tactic used to delay the enquiry and is examining the possibility of meeting Sasikala in person. The commission is expected to take a decision by January 30,” the source added.

Dr P Balaji, Member Secretary of the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu and then government doctor who had attested the left thumb impression of Jayalalithaa in her by-election nomination papers during her hospitalisation, deposed before the commission on Thursday.

The commission has also sent summons to four IAS officials who had served in various capacities during the tenure of the former CM. KN Venkatraman, who was Secretary I in the CM’s office, has been summoned on January 30. Dr S Vijayakumar who served as Secretary III to the CM is scheduled to appear on January 31. A. Ramalingam, the incumbent Commissioner of Arts and Culture, who served as Secretary IV to the CM, will appear on February 1. Jayashree Muralidharan, who was Additional Secretary to the CM, has been summoned on February 2.

Summons has also been issued to Sasikala’s aide Karthikeyan to appear on February 5 - and Iyyappan, Jayalalithaa’s chauffeur, on February 8.