Jayalalithaa panel allows Sasikala to cross examine witnesses

Chennai: Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission, probing the hospitalisation and death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, on Tuesday allowed V K Sasikala's counsel to cross examine witnesses who appeared before it and recorded statements against her.

The one-man commission also passed orders to send all related documents through speed post to Sasikala, who is currently undergoing a four-year jail term at the Parapana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru.

Justice Arumughaswamy's order came 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 adviser 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.

“As per the petitioner counsel's request, the Commission's proceedings would be adjourned for 15 days from today after issuing copies of deposition to the petitioner's counsel as well as directly to the prison by speed post enabling her to participate in the Commission's proceedings by cross examining future witnesses who are to be examined by the Commission then and there or getting time a day or two after examination of each witnesses if necessary”, the order said.

It has also ordered that a copy of deposition of evidence of witnesses other than those by Dr Sivakumar, Dr Balaji and Poonkundran be delivered to Sasikala.

The order also said the deposition by the aforesaid three persons were not complete and hence it cannot be shared with Sasikala.

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 Chief Minister on September 22, 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on December 5, 2016.”