In a fresh development in the mystery surrounding former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death, Tamil Nadu Law Minister C V Shanmugam on Monday said she would have been alive had proper treatment been given to her during the leader's 75-day hospitalisation in 2016.
Shanmugam wanted the State Government to investigate the background of health secretary J Radhakrishnan, who, he alleged, was against taking former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, abroad for treatment.
The minister's statement comes in the wake of the standing counsel for a Commission of Inquiry probing the death of Jayalalithaa alleging that Radhakrishnan "colluded and conspired" with Apollo Hospitals and "inappropriate treatment" was provided to her.
Also, the commission's counsel has alleged that the then chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao, at the time of Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation in 2016, had "purposely given false evidence", sources said.
The standing counsel for the Justice A Arumughaswamy commision, Mohammed Jafarullah Khan, in a petition before the panel has sought to implead Radhakrishnan and Rao as respondents.
The counsel's plea alleges that the health secretary made contradictory statements before the panel and the official was also against taking Jayalalithaa abroad for treatment.
The allegations have been strongly refuted by both the health secretary and the hospital, while the former chief secretary said he was not aware of the petition.
Alleging conspiracy and role of V K Sasikala's (close aide of Jayalalithaa) family in the death, the law minister claimed that despite insistence that Angiogram and treatment be done abroad, they were denied to the late AIADMK supremo.
Speaking to reporters at Villupuram, Shanmugam alleged that Radhakrishnan was against taking Jayalalithaa abroad for treatment to ensure that reputation of Indian doctors was not damaged.
"Several times there were suggestions to take Amma abroad for treatment. Doctors have said this. Central government also offered air-helicopter ambulance. All these were denied," he claimed.
"Saving a patient's life is important than protecting the reputation of doctors....This government must probe his (Radhakrishnan) background," he said and demanded that the probe cover Rao also.