State Power Minister Thangamani has denied the statement of former chief-secretary Rammohan Rao saying that he was not with former Tamil Nadu chief-minister Jayalalithaa when the latter reportedly suffered a heart-attack prior to her unfortunate demise on the night of 05th December, 2016.

Speaking to newsmen recently after deposing before the Justice Arumuga Swamy Commission of Inquiry probing the mysterious circumstances preceding Jayalalithaa’s demise, Rao said that it was a fact that Jayalalithaa had headed a discussion about Cauvery issue held at her room at the Hospital.  He also named a few Ministers who were part of the meeting held at Jayalalithaa’s wart at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.

“Jayalalithaa conducted the meeting for 2 hours and was very conscious,” Rao said when he was cross-examined by former chief-minister’s former aide Sasikala’s counsel at the Inquiry Commission.  He also named a few Ministers’ names stating that they were with the former chief-minister when she suffered a massive heart-attack a day prior to her unfortunate demise on 05th December in 2016.

Taking on Rao’s claim, Power Minister Thangamani told newspersons yesterday that Rao’s statement that some Ministers including himself were present when Jayalalithaa suffered a heart-attack was a ‘false’ one.  “We don’t know under whose compulsion Rao has been making such statements.  It’s not advisable for a person holding a high post to lie about anything,” he said.

“When Amma suffered the heart-attack, I was in Rasipuram while Minister Velumani was in Vellore,” said Thangamani adding that as the then chief-secretary, Rammohan Roa hardly showed any interest in air-lifting Amma to a foreign country to give better treatment.