Key Report on Jayalalithaa’s Death Blames Medical Staff and Close Aide VK Sasikala

In a lengthy report that criticises at least one senior government official and VK Sasikala, the close assistant of the politician who lived with her, a retired judge ruled that J Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016 after being admitted to a prestigious Chennai hospital warranted investigation.

When Ms. Jayalalithaa’s party, the AIADMK, ruled Tamil Nadu in 2017, an investigation led by former Madras High Court judge, A Arumughaswamy, was established to sort through legal claims, contradicting stories of Jayalalithaa’s sickness and treatment at Apollo Hospital, and conspiracy theories.

The DMK maintained its election promise to make sure the circumstances leading to Ms. Jayalalithaa’s death were thoroughly examined when it assumed control of the state in 2021.

The report of Justice Arumughaswamy was delivered to the government in August.
The administration presented the report to the Tamil Nadu assembly today. It claims that Chief Secretary Dr. Rama Mohana Rao, the top official at the time of Ms. Jayalalithaa’s death, committed crimes. The study also accuses former Health Minister Vijaya Baskar of making misleading comments about Jayalalithaa’s condition and Apollo Chairman Dr. Pratap Reddy.

Apollo asked the Supreme Court to exempt it from the investigation last year, claiming that the former judge was biassed and unqualified to handle medical matters. The commission was even temporarily suspended by the Supreme Court while it established a medical board.

One of Tamil Nadu’s most charismatic and powerful leaders, Ms. Jayalalithaa, held the position of chief minister for four terms. She was a former actress who was adored by AIADMK cadre as Tamil Nadu’s “Amma,” but in the later half of her career, she was dogged by suspicions of corruption.

VK Sasikala, her closest assistant, resided with her for many years. After Jayalalithaa passed away following her conviction in the disproportionate assets case, in which Jayalalithaa was the main accused, Sasikala was detained on corruption-related allegations in 2017. Four years after her release from a nearby prison in Karnataka, Sasikala tried unsuccessfully to take over the AIADMK.

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