Jaya’s death: HC declines to entertain ex-Minister’s plea

Points out that govt. has already set up inquiry commission

AIADMK Supremo J. Jayalalithaa at her party office at the anniversary function in Chennai on October 17, 2003. The 32nd foundation anniversary of the AIADMK was celebrated all over the State with great enthusiasm by the party workers. It was on this day 32 years ago, Late M.G. Ramachandran floated the outfit after his dismissal from the DMK on October 12, 1972. Photo: Vino John

The Madras High Court has declined to entertain a plea by a former AIADMK Minister seeking a direction to the police to permit him to stage a protest on October 23 in front of the Vellore Collectorate, seeking a CBI probe into the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Justice M.S. Ramesh, in a recent order, said the State Government had already set up an inquiry commission to probe the death.

‘Several doubts’

The judge also pointed out that the government had appointed retired High Court judge, Justice A. Arumugasamy, to head the inquiry panel and declined to entertain the plea by former minister Pandurangan, who claimed that he was a supporter of the ‘Deepa’ faction in the party.

Alleging that there were “several doubts” with regard to the death of Jayalalithaa, the petitioner submitted that he would like to stage a protest on behalf of his party before the Vellore Collectorate on October 23.

He had given a representation to the police earlier in this regard, but permission was denied citing the grievance day meeting at the Collectorate that day.

The petitioner had sought a direction to the police to permit him to stage the protest in front of the Collectorate that day.

Jayalalithaa died on December 5 last year after 75 days of treatment at the Apollo Hospitals here.