No foul play in Jaya’s death, says Dhivakaran

He was summoned by the commission because of his comments at a public meeting earlier on January 17, wherein he had stated that the former chief minister had died on December 4 and not on December 5. Dhivakaran had also added that her death was publicised a day later due to concerns over security of the hospital. 

Later, he retracted the statement saying that Amma had died a ‘medical death’ on December 4 and a ‘biological death’ on December 5. 

On Thursday, Dhivakaran was questioned by Arumughaswamy on several issues such as information about Jayalalithaa’s stay at Apollo, the people who had access to her, as well as his knowledge regarding any video or audio evidence from the former CM’s hospitalisation period. 

After a three-hour meeting with the Justice, Dhivakaran came out and told reporters that he had answered all the questions Arumughaswamy asked him, and that he suspected no foul play in the death of Jayalalithaa. 

“They inquired about me, my family and what role we played in Jayalalithaa’s administration.” He said that he went to Apollo Hospitals twice but wasn’t able to meet the former CM – and that only VK Sasikala had full access to her. He also clarified on his previous statement saying that he had received information that Jayalalithaa had died on December 4 – and that is what he informed the commission during the deposition. Dhivakaran also added that while there was a lot of competition and drama over who would succeed Jayalalithaa as the CM after her demise, he felt there was nothing wrong with O Panneerselvam taking over initially and that he wasn’t chosen in a hasty manner.