Mystery deepens on Jayalalitha’s death as Apollo Hospital Chairman Reveals

Chennai: A day after reports emerged of an affidavit by J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala detailing the events before the late AIADMK chief’s hospitalisation on 22 September 2016, another major revelation came to the fore on Thursday. In remarks that have raised eyebrows, Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy has said that during the time the former chief minister was hospitalised (75 days), all the CCTV cameras at the hospital had been switched off. Jayalalithaa passed away on 5 December 2016.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Apollo International Colorectal Symposium 2018 here,

Dr Reddy said the CCTV cameras had been turned off as Jayalalithaa was the only patient in the 24-bed intensive care unit. Dr Reddy further said the hospital had given all necessary and relevant documents to the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission that is inquiring into the death of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister that has been shrouded in mystery.

According to The Times of India, Dr Reddy was asked whether the hospital had also given CCTV footage to the probe panel. He responded: “I am sorry. Unfortunately, they switched off all the CCTVs for all the 75 days. As soon as she got admitted, the access to the ICU was closed. All patients were diverted to another ICU. This ICU was occupied only by her. Only one out of 24 room in the ICU was used. They removed the cameras because they did not want everyone to be watching,” he said. Stating that no visitors were allowed in the ICU to meet the ailing chief minister, the Apollo Hospitals chairman added: “In the hospital, we follow a simple policy. No one is allowed in the ICU, except close relatives for a short time. Since she was critical, we did not permit. But relatives have an option to ask for some people. The doctor who is on duty can allow.”

He reiterated that the hospital did all it could to cure the ailing 69-year-old leader but unfortunately, she died following a massive heart attack. Jayalalithaa had suffered a cardiac arrest on December 4 and was declared dead the following day.

“The matter is sub judice, as a one-man commission is holding an inquiry. She was at the hospital for several days. From ward boys to technicians to nurses to doctors everyone took good care of her. There were doctors from other countries as well. We had high hopes she would recover. I even said she was well,” Dr Reddy said.

In the affidavit filed before the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission, Sasikala said the AIADMK chief had indicated on the night of 22 September 2016, that she was unwell when she was in the bathroom. Sasikala said she helped the former CM reach her bed after she had “fainted” around 9.30 pm. Ambulances were then called in from the Apollo Hospitals where she was taken for treatment.

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