Justice Arunmugaswamy begins probe into Jayalalithaa's death

Jayalalithaa died on December 5 last year after 75 days of treatment at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai

Justice A Arumughaswamy, appointed by the Tamil Nadu government to inquire into the circumstances leading to the hospitalisation of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, assumed charge on Friday.

On September 25, 2017, the state government issued an order appointing retired Madras High Court judge as a single member of the Commission of Inquiry "to inquire into the circumstances and situation leading to the hospitalisation of the late Chief Minister on September 22, 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on December 5, 2016".

Apollo Hospitals Founder and Chairman Prathap C Reddy on Wednesday told reporters that the hospital welcome the Judicial Commission while also stating that Jayalalithaa had been given all the possible treatment. The senior officials from the hospital told reporters that it has submitted the documents to the government.

A notification calling for information on the agenda of the one-man inquiry commission will be followed after the retired judge assumed office.

The opposition parties have raised several questions related to the hospitalisation and the alleged issues in disseminating information related to her deteriorating health. Opposition leader and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Working President M K Stalin on Thursday sought a CBI investigation on the matter.

Earlier reports quoting Jayalithaa's Patient Care Report in Apollo Hospitals said that she was suffering from high fever, pneumonia, thyroid and high blood pressure, apart from high sugar level.

Reports said that she was breathless and drowsy and the oxygen level in her body was 45 per cent instead of 100 per cent.

The hospital document, displayed on some television channels, has no reference to any injury on her body during hospitalisation.

Last month, State Co-operation Minister Sellur K Raju said that all the ministers had visited Jayalalitaa in the hospital during her treatment. Contrary to Palaniswami government's statement, C Sreenivasan, said that no ministers were allowed to meet Jayalalithaa in the hospital while also stating that he had lied earlier about meeting her.

Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar said that the ministers might have spoken from their personal experience and the matter is before the inquiry commission now. He added that he will share the information with the Commission, during their inquiry. Another minister, O S Manian, said that he was briefed by the Health Minister and Apollo Hospitals management on the health condition of Jayalalithaa when she was admitted in the hospital.