Will give video of Jayalalithaa to probe team: TTV Dhinakaran

CHENNAI: Ousted AIADMK deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Monday revealed that his aunt V K Sasikala had indeed shot a video of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

However, Sasikala did not want him to use it to gain sympathy votes in the countermanded RK Nagar bypolls where he was the party’s candidate.

“Instead, she said we can produce the videos before an inquiry commission if it is constituted. We are ready to face any inquiry even if by CBI or interpol. If at all an inquiry is initiated, the first person to respond to that is O Panneerselvam,” added Dhinakaran before the judge was named to head the commission.

Questioning the timing of the issue has been raised again, he said it was because the ruling faction was rattled by the overwhelming response to the public meetings organised by the rebels.

Dhinakaran reiterated that from October 1, even Sasikala was not allowed to see Jayalalithaa. Doctors advised her to see when Jayalalithaa was sleeping. Occasionally, when Jayalalithaa herself asked people to bring Sasikala, she met Amma. This continued for 15 to 20 days, he said.

On a day when the government announced a probe panel headed by retired HC judge A Arumughaswamy, DMK working president and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin reiterated his demand for a CBI probe instead into the death of Jayalalithaa.

Only a broad investigation will cover Union minister, specialist from London Richard Beale, doctors from Singapore and AIIMS, he argued. The CBI alone could be the right agency to hold such a broad investigation. So the Centre, without any further delay, should order an inquiry by the CBI, he urged. 

Rich in experience

Justice A Arumughaswamy, who retired as Madras High Court Judge, joined the subordinate judiciary as a district munsiff in May 1986. He was promoted as sub-judge in 1991 and as a district judge in January 1998. After serving in various districts, he was posted as Registrar-General of the Madras High Court on March 31, 2009. He was elevated as judge of the Madras High Court on February 17, 2010. After his retirement from service on April 27, 2014, he took charge as Chairman in Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal in Mumbai the very next day. He served in the DRAT for two years. He also served as a judicial-member of CAT, Tamil Nadu Bench at Chennai.