Jaya panel likely to summon Vice President, former Governor

In a series of questions, the Commission asked if bulletins were forwarded to the President, and if proper updates were provided. 

The Commission had also written to the Chief Secretary questioning whether the five-members medical committee headed by Dr Balaji provided updates to Government and if the Health Secretary kept the Chief Secretary and council of ministers abreast on the health status of the former CM. They enquired if there was any written communication between Raj Bhavan, Apollo hospitals and AIIMS during that period.

Meanwhile, Apollo hospitals submitted that the CCTV footage of Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation has been erased. Apollo COO said it was the hospital’s practice to retain CCTV footage only for one month after which it is taped over, hence no footage exists, said the hospital COO, adding that hospital did not use CCTV cameras when high profile persons were admitted for treatment.

The enquiry panel had asked the COO of Apollo hospitals Subbiah Viswananathan to turn in all footage from the time Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo hospitals. The hospital was given time of one week to turn in the footage. Subbiah Viswananathan had expressed reservations that he was unsure if the hospital has preserved the footage as almost two years have passed since the former CM was hospitalised. It is to be recalled that in March this year, Apollo Chairman Dr Pratap Reddy had told the media that all CCTV cameras in the hospital were switched off on all 75 days of Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation.

The CCTV footage has been a point of contention as the only video available from the time of Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation was one leaked by former MLA Vetrivel, a few days prior to the RK Nagar by-elections. The video, purportedly shot by Sasikala, showed Jayalalithaa in her hospital room.

Subbiah Viswananathan is set to appear for cross-examination by VK Sasikala’s counsel Raja Senthoor Pandian on September 25.