Medical report: 'When admitted, Jayalalithaa was drowsy but could talk'
What's the story
The first medical report filed on 22 September'16 in Chennai's Apollo Hospital reportedly says AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa was drowsy and had difficulty breathing but could speak, when she was brought in. This information comes at a time when the TN government has constituted an inquiry commission to probe Jayalalithaa's death and investigate the circumstances under which she was hospitalized. Know more!
Conspiracy theory
Conspiracy theories began after Jayalalithaa's death
AIADMK matriarch Jayalalithaa died on 5 December'16. Deputy CM Panneerselvam was the first to suggest in February, when he was trying to retain CM's post, that there was something fishy about Jayalalithaa's death as only her longtime aide Sasikala was allowed to meet her. He had made the demand for a full-fledged inquiry into her death a pre-condition for reunion with CM Palaniswami's faction.
Recent events
Controversy around her death is stirred up again
The conspiracy theory was stirred up again after TN minister C. Sreenivaasan asked people's forgiveness for lying about Jayalalithaa's health condition that "she had idlis" and "people met her" when she was in the hospital. Instead, "nobody saw her." Jayalalithaa's nephew Deepak questioned that though she was provided Z plus security, why were they not present in the hospital.
Inquiry
What steps has the government taken?
The government has set up an inquiry commission under retired Justice Arumugasamy who has three months to report the findings. He has been given a "free hand." Palaniswamy has outlined the committee's scope as looking "into the circumstances and situation leading to the hospitalization" of Jayalalithaa "on 22 September 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on 5 December 2016."
Implication
What does this inquiry imply?
After Jayalalithaa's death, there were many unanswered questions. Why did the ambulance from Apollo Hospital take half an hour to transport Jayalalithaa when the hospital is hardly 5km from her house? Why was the 24/7 ambulance, a mini-hospital, not used to transport Jayalalithaa? The inquiry may answer these questions and specify expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala's role in the entire episode.