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Probe panel ‘indicts’ Sasikala for events leading to Jayalalithaa’s death
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN
Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: A probe panel inquiring into the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa six years ago has recommended a probe against her aide VK Sasikala and the state’s former health officials.In its report, the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry (CoI) said that it “indicts” Sasikala for the events that led to Jayalalithaa’s death and recommended a probe into the matter.
The report was tabled by the Tamil Nadu government in the assembly in Chennai on Tuesday.It said that former health minister C Vijayabaskar, the then health secretary J Radhakrishnan and KS Sivakumar, a medical doctor, “have to be found at fault and an investigation is to be ordered.”
It also recommended a probe against the then chief secretary Rama Mohana Rao and others, including doctors.Vijayabaskar is an AIADMK leader and a legislator. Jayalalithaa had headed the AIADMK.The Arumughaswamy commission had earlier presented the report to Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin.
The report asked why the former chief minister was not taken abroad for treatment even after Dr Richard Beale was prepared to take her overseas.It also noted that, even after eminent doctors from the UK and the US who had reached Apollo hospital on the invitation from the state government, had suggested angioplasty, it was not conducted.
“They (hospital) successfully threw it to the wind on the pretext of postponing it to achieve their aim under some pressure. Hence, investigation is to be ordered,” it said.
The CoI’s Terms of Reference (ToR) was to inquire into the circumstances and situation leading to Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation on 22 September, 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her death on 5 December, 2016.In its finding, as regards the first part of the ToR on circumstances leading to the late AIADMK supremo’s hospitalisation, the Commission said it “has not found anything abnormal or unnatural” in the conduct of the people including Sasikala.
Adequate care was taken to shift Jayalalithaa to the Apollo Hospital promptly without delay, it said.On the other aspect of the ToR, the Commission indicted people including Sasikala. The CoI in its 475-page report goes into an allegation of conspiracy against Sasikala and her relatives based on a reportage in a Tamil magazine.
The panel said that it was very clear that, “only on strong suspicion,” Jayalalithaa sent Sasikala out of her Poes Garden residence in Chennai (from November 2011 to March 2012).Subsequently, after getting a letter from Sasikala that she would not interfere in politics, Jayalalithaa allowed her back into her Poes Garden residence and the leader kept her “at a distance.”
On a plea to cross-examine former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy, the panel said the applicant has not given sufficient reasons for it.
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
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Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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