Apollo Hospitals, Chennai has clarified that former chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa, who remained hospitalized at the hospital for 75 days from 22nd September, 2016, passed away late on the night of 05th December and not a day before as claimed by Diwakaran, brother of Sasikala, former aide of the former chief-minister.

“It is indeed unfortunate that controversies are raised by many quarters about the date of demise of the former chief-minister,” a press release issued by Apollo Hospital said. Sasikala’s brother Diwakaran (who never opened his mouth when Jayalalithaa was alive) kick-started the controversy while speaking at a meeting held in Mannargudi yesterday in the 101st birthday celebrations of AIADMK founder MGR.

“Jayalalithaa had passed away at 05:15 p.m. on 04th December, 2016 after she suffered a massive cardiac arrest,” Diwakaran claimed and added that Apollo Hospital delayed the ‘breaking of the news’ by more than 24 hours mainly to ‘save’ and ‘protect’ its establishments across the city and elsewhere. This had shocked the people who wondered how Apollo could do so while dealing with a national leader.

It is in this backdrop that Apollo has clarified things stating that it stood by what it said earlier about Jayalalithaa’s demise. “It is indeed unfortunate that controversies are created unnecessarily about the date of demise of the former chief-minister when Justice Arumuga Swamy-led Commission of Inquiry is probing the circumstances behind her demise,” it said.

“All medical procedures were followed in a steadfast manner while treating the former chief-minister and it was beyond our capacity that the chief-minister passed away unfortunately,” it said. It may be recalled that only a few days back, the Hospital had provided voluminous documents in two huge suitcases containing medical records and documents about the treatment given to the former chief-minister.