Sasikala's niece hits out at TTV Dhinakaran, Vetrivel

CHENNAI: Chinks in Mannargudi clan came to the fore on Wednesday with V. K. Sasikala’s niece Krishna Priya slamming her relative TTV Dhinakaran for the release of Jayalalithaa’s hospital video by his loyalist P. Vetrivel and demanding his explanation.

“Chinnamma had given the video to Dhinakaran for being handed over to the (Justice A Arumughaswamy) Enquiry Commission (probing Jaya’s death). We want to know how it landed in the hands of Vetrivel. We want Dhinakaran to explain,” fumed Krishna Priya, hours after the video that showed Jayalalithaa sipping a drink in her hospital bed went viral.

Interestingly, Jaya TV, now controlled by Krishna Priya’s brother Vivek Jayaraman, did not air the video. This development led to widespread speculation about differences in the family since Jaya TV goes to town with every bit of information related to Jayalalithaa.

Krishna Priya said the video was shot by Sasikala and with Jayalalithaa’s approval when the latter was shifted to a “special room” in Apollo Hospitals from Intensive Care Unit (ICU). 

“It was done purely for personal purposes and not for public circulation. Chinnamma had taken the stand she would not release it and betray Jayalalithaa’s confidence; that’s why she did not release it even when allegations erupted accusing her of killing Jayalalithaa,” Krishna Priya said.

Krishna Priya first took to Facebook and accused Dhinakaran of ‘stooping low’ in having the video released. But, she quickly deleted the post on her timeline and quickly replaced his name with that of Vetrivel.

Krishna Priya pointed fingers at him more than once during his five-minute-long interaction with media for releasing the video. She also suggested that Vetrivel could not have released the video without the concurrence of Dhinakaran.

While Krishna Priya said the family was “upset” with the video release since it “showed Amma in poor light”, Jayanand, son of Sasikala’s brother Dhivakaran, said none can take objection to the  video’s release since it was done with an aim to “clear doubts of millions of AIADMK cadre.”

“Doubts and suspicion in the minds of cadre have been cleared after the release of the video. No one can take and should take objection to release of the video since it is authentic and was released only to clear doubts,” Jayanand said, in a clear rebuttal to Krishna Priya. 

Krishna Priya termed the video release a “big mistake” and “betrayal of trust” on the part of Vetrivel and said she expected Dhina-karan to act against him.

 On the date on which the video was shot, she said it was taken a “month or two” after Jayalalithaa was hospitalised. “First she was in ICU and later she was brought to a room and the video was shot at that time,” she claimed.

Police file case against Vetrivel
City police on Wednesday booked expelled AIADMK leader P. Vetrivel of TTV Dhinakaran faction, a few hours after he released a video clip, purportedly of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital.

The 20-second video shows the late chief minister on a hospital bed, sipping fluids from a white plastic cup using a straw. The video created a furore among the political circles. Several leaders questioned the veracity and timing of the release of the video clip, especially since the clip has been released a year after Jayalalithaa’s death.

The Election Commission too responded strongly to Vetrivel’s act. Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said that a case will be filed against Dhinakaran’s side and stated that releasing a video related to a leader of political party will be considered as canvassing.

Meanwhile, Chennai police registered a case against P. Vetrivel under IPC section 188 (disobedience of a public servant’s order) and Section 126 (b) of the Representation of Peoples Act (display to public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus).