Cost imposed on plea seeking CBI probe into Jaya death

Justice P N Prakash who dismissed the original criminal petition moved by M. Ramanathan of Salem, in his order said, “The fact remains that an enquiry commission has been appointed by the Government of Tamil Nadu headed by a retired judge of the High Court. While so, the present petition has been filed on frivolous grounds. Hence the petition is dismissed by imposing a cost of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner payable to the Legal Services Authority of High Court, Chennai.”

The petitioner had alleged that the acts of the people who surrounded Jayalalithaa had made the whole affair leading to her death a secret and hence he had locus standi to know about the death of the former Chief Minister as it would fall under section 300 of IPC, which deals with murder.

Stating that the people responsible for her death ought to be booked, the petitioner contended that he was merely echoing the views of lakhs of people who were totally kept under dark about the mysterious admission of the former Chief Minister to Apollo Hospitals on September 22, 2016. 

The petition had also raised suspicion over Jayalalithaa being taken to a private hospital ignoring reputed government hospitals and high-profile dignitaries including the Governor being unable to visit her.

Submitting that he had already sent a complaint to Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu as well on March 5, 2018 seeking a detailed enquiry, he sought the court to direct the state to hold a CBI probe into Jayalalithaa’s death.