No Jayalalithaa footage to prevent people from watching: Apollo

“Unfortunately, we switched it off… they did not keep that (CCTV footage) because, you know…  after she got admitted, we kept very close… this one… so all other patients were diverted into another ICU. It was completely occupied by her. Only one out of 24 rooms were used, so they removed the footage because they didn’t want everyone to watch,” Dr Prathap Reddy said at a press meet held here when asked if the hospital had submitted CCTV footage of the late CM’s hospitalisation to the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission probing into Jayalalithaa’s death. 

The announcement coming barely a couple of days after Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala’s affidavit to the commission was leaked to a section of the media in which she allegedly claimed that deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had met Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation (which he has completely denied) and that she even held a meeting on the Cauvery dispute with senior officials has deepened the mystery surrounding Jayalalithaa’s death. 

When asked if the hospital kept a record of who met Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation, Dr Reddy said, “As far as possible in ICU, we don’t allow anyone except close relatives for a very short time. Since she was very critical, we did not permit anyone, but the relatives have an option to ask for some people for which the doctor who was on duty allows them.” 

However, he added that the documents pertaining to treatment and her medical history had been submitted to Justice Arumughaswamy Commission. “If we receive calls, we would definitely appear for enquiry,” Dr Reddy said. 

Dr Reddy reiterated that the former Chief Minister was recovering well and the unexpected heart attack led to a sudden decline in her health. “I made the bold statement after seeing her progress. Everyone did their very best- from ward boys to technicians. I know the team of doctors, cooperated here and even doctors from other countries did their best,” he said.

Reacting to the development, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam chief TTV Dhinakaran clarified that they had nothing to do with the CCTV surveillance. “It is the Apollo Hospital management that has to clear the air on this issue as to why they took such a decision. We have no fear,” he said. 

A day before the RK Nagar bypoll, Dhinakaran’s supporter and Perambur MLA Vetrivel had released video footage of late CM Jayalalithaa watching TV at the Apollo Hospitals which he claimed was shot by VK Sasikala.