Ex-CS denies saying ministers present when Jayalalithaa suffered cardiac arrest

The one-man commission obtained a list of 31 people from him during his previous deposition regarding all the personal staff employed by Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence. 

Former Chief Secretary Rama Mohan Rao also appeared before the Arumughaswamy commission. He spoke to the media and clarified statements attributed to him which said that senior ministers were present at the time Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest. He said he had reached the hospital only at 6pm on the day Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest and that he had not mentioned that any ministers were present there at that time.

“These statements have been attributed to me and have appeared in many newspapers that I said ministers were present when she suffered a cardiac arrest. But I have not said any such thing. My statements are on record with the commission. As for reports that I also said ministers met the CM many times during her hospitalisation, I have been at the office all day during that period and I would not know which minister visited the CM when. After the news of the cardiac arrest we all rushed to the hospital. Some ministers arrived on December 4 while some on December 5.” 

The former Chief Secretary said he had appeared before the commission as there have been misinterpretations of his statements made during the initial deposition and later cross-examination by V K Sasikala’s counsel on April 7. He added that he was present to understand how the misinterpretations arose and to clarify any doubts that may have risen consequently.