Edappadi K Palaniswami blames P Rama Mohana Rao for falsehoods on Jayalalithaa death

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday accused former chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao of providing incorrect information about late chief minister J Jayalalithaa's health.

"Rao was trying to shield somebody by making a false claim that certain ministers were present when late Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on December 4, 2016," Palaniswami cryptically told reporters at the airport in Coimbatore. She was declared dead the next day on December 5.

The former chief secretary had reportedly told the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry, which is probing the circumstances leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and death, that Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani, Electricity Minister P Thangamani, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai and a few others were present when Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest. He also told the Commission that the idea of taking the then Chief Minister abroad for treatment was dropped as a group of Ministers did not revert to him.

Palaniswami said that Rao had made those statements to let 'somebody' off the hook and that his statements were contrary to truth.

Earlier in the day in Namakkal, Thangamani said Rao was spreading this falsehood to satisfy some vested interests whom he had met in Thanjavur a few days ago.

SECY TO PANEL

• Former chief secy told probe panel several ministers in room at the time of cardiac arrest
   
• Also said idea of taking Jaya abroad for treatment was dropped as a group of ministers did not revert to him