Jayalalithaa panel: Will quiz V K Sasikala in jail if affidavits not filed

CHENNAI: Castigating jailed AIADMK leader V. K. Sasikala for “playing hide and seek” by seeking extension after extension to file affidavit, Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probing J. Jayalalithaa’s death on Tuesday warned of interrogating her at the Bengaluru jail if she does not respond to its summons immediately.

 The commission rejected applications filed by Sasikala’s counsel Raja Senthoor Pandian seeking more time to submit affidavits even after the testimonies made by witnesses who appeared before it and recorded statement against her were sent to her through post.

Sources in the Commission said since this was the fifth time Sasikala counsel’s sought more time, Justice Arumughaswamy lost his cool and lambasted the petitioner for “delaying the case.”

 “If you don’t submit the reply, we will come to the jail to interrogate you,” Justice Arumughaswamy told Sasikala’s counsel. The one-man commission had in January sent all related documents through speed post to Sasikala, who is currently undergoing four-year term at the Parapana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru.

Justice Arumughaswamy’s order had come on a petition filed by Sasikala’s counsel Raja Senthoor Pandian seeking details of persons who deposed against her before the Commission. A host of people, including Jayalalithaa’s former advisor Sheela Balakrishnan, former chief secretary Rama Mohana Rao, Sasikala’s niece Krishna Priya and Jayalalithaa’s former personal assistant Poonkundran, have appeared before the Commission and shared information on the former chief minister’s hospitalisation and death.

After the commission summoned Sasikala to appear before it on the evidence, her counsel had requested that the Commission disclose details of all those who had deposed against Sasikala. A number of people have also sent documents and affidavits relating to Jayalalithaa’s death to the commission.

The commission has been mandated to inquire into the “circumstances and situation leading to the hospitalisation of the late Hon’ble Chief Minister on September 22, 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on December 5, 2016.”