15 appear before Jaya probe panel

Those sent summons on Thursday included Apollo Hospitals doctors Babu Manohar, Bhaskar, Senthil Kumar, Bhuvaneshwari, Shankar and Sai Sathish. The nurses who appeared on Thursday were Chamundeeshwari, Rajeshwari and Aneesh. 

Ambulance driver Suresh Kumar and record keeper at Apollo Hospitals, Govindaraj, appeared for cross-examination by Jayalalithaa’s former aide and close confidante VK Sasikala’s counsel Raja Senthoor Pandian.

Raja Senthoor Pandian said Dr Senthil Kumar claimed Jayalalithaa appeared to be tired at the time of admission to the hospital. He added that while Jayalalithaa was critical in the intensive care unit, doctors from America were consulted through video conferencing regarding her treatment. 

Raja Senthoor Pandian added that the allegations that have been levelled have been motivated by spite. 

So far, the enquiry commission has examined 100 witnesses with 68 of them having being cross-examined by Sasikala’s counsel.

The former chief minister spent 75 days at the hospital following her admission on September 22, 2016, after taking ill at her residence in Poes Garden. 

She passed away on December 5, 2016. The commission is set to submit its final report on October 24 this year.