Jaya video: Vetrivel given summons by Arumughasamy commission

CHENNAI: P Vetrivel, the disqualified Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and confidante of rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, has been summoned by the Arumughasamy commission, which is probing the circumstances surrounding former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s death.
Vetrivel had released a video footage on the eve of the RK Nagar bypoll, which showed Jayalalithaa in a hospital-like setup, sipping juice and watching television in the room. Opposition party members alleged that Vetrivel had released the video to benefit Dhinakaran, who eventually won the RK Nagar polls.
Vetrivel’s lawyers submitted the video to the commission on Tuesday, sources said. Vetrivel has been asked to bring all the evidence he has, sources in the commission said. The summons was sent two days ago.
Vetrivel told reporters while releasing the video that it was shot by Jaya’s close aide and co-accused in the disproportionate assets scam, V K Sasikala. She is currently serving her sentence in the Parappana Agrahara jail in Bengaluru.
The commission had filed a complaint with the Anna square police a few hours after the video was released, stating that it was probably morphed and was intentionally released to degrade the commission and interfere with its functioning.
“Without knowing the authenticity of the video and handing it over to the commission of inquiry, broadcasting of such a video is a violation,” Panneerselvam, secretary to the commission said in the complaint.
The commission has also asked Sasikala, chairman of Apollo Hospital, Prathap C Reddy, and his daughter to file statements and submit whatever evidence they have. While Sasikala has been given 15 days, Reddy and his daughter Preetha Reddy have to file the statement and evidence within 10 days.