TRANSTAN member-secretary Dr P. Balaji on Friday is believed to have informed the Commission of Inquiry looking into Jayalalithaa's death that he had apprised then-minister O. Panneerselvam of the former Chief Minister’s health condition over 10 times.
N. Raja Senthoor Pandian, counsel for Jayalalithaa’s aide V.K. Sasikala, who cross-examined Dr. Balaji before Justice (Retd.) A. Arumughaswamy for over two hours on Friday, later told The Hindu that the then-professor of Madras Medical College had told the Commission that he visited Jayalalithaa multiple times at Apollo Hospital.
During an interaction with reporters, Mr. Pandian said Dr. Balaji had informed the Commission that Jayalalithaa was conscious and fully aware of her surroundings till December 4, 2016. Dr. Balaji also reportedly told the Commission that Jayalalithaa was conscious on October 27, 2016 and that she had herself affixed her thumb imprint on documents (Form B) related to byelection-related documents.
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Dr. Balaji had attested that the thumb imprint was indeed Jayalalithaa's.
Mr. Pandian also told reporters that Dr. Balaji travelled to Apollo Hospital after being called by Babu Abraham, a doctor there.
Sasikala's lawyer examined all five of the government doctors, who were on the panel formed to oversee her treatment.
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Among them were Dr. Muthuselvam. During cross-examination, Sasikala's lawyers pointed out that he was among the doctors who treated Jayalalithaa in late 2014 and obtained details of her deteriorating health.
M.N. Shankar, an acupuncturist who supposedly treated Jayalalithaa, was also examined.
‘Felt insulted’
He said that he felt insulted by the questions posed to him and said that Sasikala’s lawyers focussed on his qualifications.
Mr. Pandian said Mr. Shankar had, in response to a question asked by the Commission, apologised for making statements about Jayalalithaa’s death that were not backed by evidence.