Jaya probe panel warns Apollo of action

The one-man Commission probing J Jayalalithaa's death on Thursday warned Apollo Hospitals of action if its doctors and technicians don't depose before it in connection with the hospitalisation of the former chief minister.

Jayalalithaa was admitted in Apollo Hospitals for 75 days from September 22, 2016 to December 5, 2016 – the day she passed away. The Commission headed by retired justice A Arumughaswamy has been tasked to inquire into the “circumstances and situation leading to the hospitalisation” of Jayalalithaa and subsequent treatment provided till her death, due to conspiracy theories and doubts raised by various quarters.

In a letter sent to Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, the Commission asked him to advice doctors who have given treatment to Jayalalithaa to appear before the Commission on the respective dates in a phased manner.

“Even duirng previous hearings some of them have not appeared before the Commission and it has been condoned. You are hereby directed to depute the doctors and technicians before this Commission without raising any technical objections, remembering that your hospital has received several crores of rupees towards treatment charges.

Law's course

“It is informed that if you fail to depute the doctors and technicians, law will take its own course against you and other directors,” S Komala, Secretary to the Commission of Inquiry, said in a letter to Reddy.

The letter assumes significance in the wake of reports that the Commission was upset with the hospital management for not cooperating in the inquiry. However, Apollo Hospitals has been maintaining that it is extending all possible cooperation to the Commission.