The Tamil Nadu government set up on September 25, 2017 an inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge, Justice A. Arumugasamy, to investigate the death of former State Chief Minister Jayalalalithaa on December 5, 2016 after 75 days of treatment at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. She was admitted to the hospital for fever and dehydration on September 22, 2016. After the prolonged hospitalisation, she died following a cardiac arrest.
Doubts had been raised by various political parties and leaders of both the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over the events leading to her hospitalisation and her death. Apollo Hospitals arranged a media conference in February 2017, seeking to put to rest any such apprehensions.
In a plea to the Supreme Court, the hospital sought the disbanding of the inquiry commission, arguing that the “proceedings reeked of bias” and were a “violation of the principles of natural justice”. A seven-member Medical Board constituted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the directions of the Supreme Court concluded in its report dated August 4, 2022 that she was provided “correct medical treatment” by Apollo Hospitals and no errors were found in the care provided to her.
