Panel probing former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's death issues summons to Tamil Nadu's Deputy CM O Panneerselvam

Arumugasamy commission probing former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's death has issued summons to deputy Chief minister O Panneerselvam for questioning for the first time.

The commission in last one year has questioned 130 people which includes IAS/IPS officials, doctors who treated her, many ministers and her close acquaintance.

Summoning OPS is crucial as he was the chief minister when Jayalalithaa was hospitalised. It was doubted that the decision to fly Jayalalithaa to abroad for treatment was discussed among important ministers along including Sasikala, say sources.

It was O Panneerselvam who raised suspicion over the treatment given to Jayalalithaa​​​​​​​ and her hospitalisation.

The commission had also decided to question Jayalaithaa's close aide Sasikala. It had written to the Karnataka Prisons Department and Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu government to seek permission to question Sasikala.

READ: 'O Paneerselvam Still Has Desperate Chief Minister Aspirations, He Wanted To Sideline Edappadi K. Palaniswami,' Says TTV Dhinakaran

The volatile state of Tamil Nadu politics after the demise of former AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa led to several political dramas unfurling in the state starting from Kuvathur resort politics to the dramatic floor test. 

The eighteen MLAs supported by Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran had been disqualified by the Speaker P Dhanpal for rebelling against CM K Palaniswami in 2017. The disqualification had led to bypolls there.The MLAs moved the High Court challenging their disqualification. In April this year, the court delivered a split verdict. 

READ: Panel Probing Former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's Death To Question Sasikala

The Madras High Court had recently upheld the disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs by Speaker P Dhanapal for revolting against Chief Minister K Palaniswa

Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran's had floated the rebel party Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).mi in August 2017, prompting bypolls there. 

READ: On Jayalalitha’s Second Death Anniversary, First Poster Of Nithya Menen As ‘Iron Lady’ Unveiled

Earlier in September 2017, all the 18 MLAs revolted against Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and were subsequently disqualified by the speaker Dhanapal. The MLAs moved the High Court challenging their disqualification. In April this year, the court delivered a split verdict