Don’t speculate on Jaya’s death, probe panel tells media

The order comes on the back of a programme telecast on a Tamil television channel Sun TV that speculated on the nature of death of Jayalalithaa and the causes behind it. The Commission sent summons to the television channel to produce all evidence in their possession to back these claims. The channel in turn is said to have responded in an affidavit that they did not have any evidence for the same. VK Sasikala’s counsel Raja Senthoor Pandian said that summons will be sent to the channel owner Kalanidhi Maran for the same. 

The commission is said to have taken the view that such speculation as the enquiry is ongoing is detrimental to it. Furthermore, the commission requires that any evidence in possession with regard to the treatment and death of Jayalalithaa must be submitted to it. 

Meanwhile, two of the 22 doctors, who Dr Sivakumar had submitted to have treated Jayalalithaa prior to her hospitalisation appeared before the commission on Tuesday. Dr Muralidhar Rajagopal and Dr Parvathi, both dermatologists, had treated Jayalalithaa for various conditions. Dr Muralidhar had visited Jayalalithaa in May 2016 to recommend treatment for her allergy to paper and printing ink. Dr Parvathi had been consulted in July and August for stress-related itching and breakouts. Dr Parvathi informed the commission that she had prescribed a course of steroids for treatment with the consent of Jayalalithaa. 

Documents submitted by Dr Sivakumar during his appearance on Monday include a log of all doctors who visited Jayalalithaa and all medications prescribed by them. The dermatologists vouched for the veracity of these records. In addition, Dr Sivakumar had also turned in records of previous check-up undergone in earlier years including 2014 and 2015 where it was found that she had not suffered from the heart conditions that were discovered during her hospitalisation in 2016. 

Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr Pratap Reddy has also reiterated that the hospital had provided the best care to the ailing Chief Minister. He said, “It is known that Apollo has done its best than any other hospital could have done. I have provided all the information to the media and the commission is thoroughly going through it. We did our best possible,” he said while speaking to reporters at an event in the city.