The Justice (Retd.) A. Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry, which is probing the hospitalisation and subsequent death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, on Monday heard arguments from the counsel for V.K. Sasikala, the jailed aide of the late AIADMK supremo, seeking access to witness testimonies against her and the ‘evidences’ submitted by them.
Advocate N. Raja Senthoor Pandian said that he had filed an application in connection with this before the Commission on January 12, in addition to the one filed on January 5. On January 5, Sasikala had requested access to witness testimonies and evidence against her. In the new application, her lawyers argued that their client be given access to documents once depositions are completed. He cited a Supreme Court order of 1989, that favoured incumbent Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi. Ms. Bedi — then Delhi's DCP (North) — had refused to appear before a Commission looking into the Delhi police’s action against lawyers, citing Section 8B of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. The SC held that she was right in claiming protection under 8B and refusing to be cross-examined at the beginning of the inquiry when she could be heard at the end. Sasikala’s counsel, citing Section 8B, said the Commission inquiring into her conduct (now) will be prejudicially affected by the inquiry.
