The Justice Arumuga Swamy-headed one-man Commission of Inquiry (COI), which is probing the mysterious circumstances behind the demise of former chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa on 05th December, 2016, has interrogated Dr. Balaji of Apollo Hospitals for the third time within a month.

Set-up by the Edapadi Palaniswami-led AIADMK Govt. a few months back, the COI was initially given a period of 3 months to wind up its inquiry but its tenure was later extended by six months. The COI has asked the general public as well as AIADMK cadres and others to inform it about any development or piece of information which might even remotely be of help in its probe. It has also been issuing summons to many individuals directing them to depose before it.

Doubts were case about the left-hand thumb impression (LTI) of Jayalalithaa which was reportedly affixed by her in the nomination form nominating party’s candidate for the Tirupparankundram by-poll held during her days of hospitalization at Apollo. Losing DMK candidate Saravanan had contested that the LTI was ‘different’ from the one affixed on an earlier form by Jayalalithaa when she was well. The COI then summoned Dr. Balaji, who was reportedly present at the hospital ward when Jayalalithaa’s LTI was taken, and interrogated him twice in the past.

Balaji submitted before the COI what he had earlier deposed verbally and later spoke to waiting newsmen after he emerged from the inquiry. “I replied all queries related to the treatment of Ms. Jayalalithaa and would appear before the COI one more time if I’m invited,” he said.