Jayalalithaa Death Probe: Apollo Hospital Tells SC That It Will Not Appear Before Arumughaswamy Commission

The hospital also said that they switched off the CCTV footage of the hospital during treatment since the then AIADMK government directed the hospital to remove the cameras due to privacy issues

Former TN CM Jayalalithaa At Apollo Hospital (Representative Image)

Chennai: The Apollo Hospitals on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it will not appear before the Arumughaswamy Commission of inquiry as the commission was "biased". The Apollo Hospital also said that it will cooperate with the probe held by the commission, which is probing the allegations surrounding the death of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

According to a report on The Frontline, the former Chief Minister died at Apollo Hospital on December 5, 2016. In 2017, the Arumughaswamy Commission was set up and the Supreme Court stayed the functions based on the plea of the hospital in April 2019. However, once the DMK-led government came to power, the government went to SC to vacate the stay. Also, the inquiry into the mystery surrounding Jaya's death was one of the poll promises made by DMK.

During the hearing of the plea, the Apollo Hospital told SC that many political leaders did not appear before the Arumughaswamy commission but yet doctors who treated the then CM were repeatedly asked to appear before the commission. Also, the commission did not have a doctor in the team to understand the medical aspects of the case.

It also said, the commission gave a sketchy story to the media which tarnished the image of the hospital. Hence, the hospital said that it will not cooperate since it does not have faith in the commission.

The hospital also responded to a question and said that they switched off the CCTV footage of the hospital during the treatment of the former CM since the then the AIADMK government directed the hospital to remove the cameras due to privacy issues.