In his first public comments on Jayalalithaa’s hospitalization, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam revealed some shocking and unknown facts about Sasikala involvement in Jayalalithaa’s treatment. Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said a committee will be constituted to probe the mystery surrounding the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

Panneerselvam was removed from the post at a meeting of ministers and party MLAs held at late chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence, where Sasikala continues to stay, late in the night. The ministers and MLAs rushed to Poes Garden after Panneerselvam revolted by giving a statement against Sasikala on Marina Beach.

Addressing media persons outside his residence, Panneerselvam said, “There have been doubts about Amma’s death. An investigation commission headed by a retired judge is needed to look Amma’s death as it is the duty of a government to eliminate doubts of people. We will constitute an inquiry committee. The committee will submit its report to the high court, and the report will be made public.”

He also said that no political leader could meet her in the Apollo Hospitals where she died on December 5. “For 75 days I went to the hospital. But I could not meet her even once. Even my family members used to ask me every day whether I met Amma. At one stage, I even thought of lying that I had met her. But I did not do so. We were informed that Amma was recovering. We were confident. When we came to know that Amma has passed away, we felt we have lost all our powers,” Panneerselvam said.

When asked a question, whether anyone other than Sasikala met Jayalalithaa, he said: “I do not have information about any political leader meeting her. Only the Governor went inside twice. I neither saw nor heard of any other leader meeting her.”

On whether Jayalalithaa wanted to meet him since he was a loyalist or he took any effort to visit her, the senior AIADMK leader said he tried several times. “But thought maybe I was unfortunate and a sinner not to have seen her in the hospital.”

I was called, and asked to prepare for the fact that Chinamma was to become the next CM. I asked what the hurry and necessity was. I did not know that the MLAs meeting was called. And yet I was called and asked to take charge of the succession. I did not understand this. I argued for over two hours about this.