The Mystery Around Jayalalithaa’s Death –

J. Jayalalithaa, loved by millions of people in Tamil Nadu and known as “Amma”, died on 5 December 2016 after staying in Apollo Hospital, Chennai, for 75 days. Even after nine years, many people still believe there was something suspicious about her death. Three questions get repeated all the time:

1. Why were all the CCTV cameras switched off?

2. Who was controlling everything inside the hospital?

3. Who decided to switch off the life-support machine (ECMO)?

Let’s explain each of these in very simple words, using what official reports have already said.

1. Why were the CCTV cameras turned off?

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo on 22 September 2016. As soon as she arrived, the entire 24-bed ICU floor was cleared just for her.

Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, the Apollo chairman, told the Arumughaswamy Commission in 2018 that the ICU cameras were switched off from day one.

Why?

Because her family and aides wanted complete privacy and security. Even the corridor cameras were turned off by the Tamil Nadu Police whenever she had to be moved inside the floor.

Also, hospitals usually delete CCTV footage after 30–90 days. So when the commission asked for the videos two years later, in 2018, there was simply nothing left.

There is no evidence that any secret video ever existed or was hidden.

2. Who controlled the hospital floor?

The person in charge was V.K. Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s long-time friend and close aide.

The 2022 Arumughaswamy Commission report (nearly 1,000 pages long) clearly states that:

Sasikala controlled who could meet Jayalalithaa

She decided which doctors could speak to the media

She even influenced when certain tests should happen

Even top ministers, including acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, were mostly kept out.

The commission criticised Sasikala for behaving like she owned the place.

But it did not find any proof that she poisoned or killed Jayalalithaa.

3. Who decided to remove ECMO (life-support)?

ECMO is a powerful life-support system that works like an artificial heart and lungs. It is used only when the patient cannot survive on their own.

On 4 December 2016, at around 5:15 PM, Jayalalithaa suffered a severe heart attack. Doctors revived her using CPR and put her on ECMO by 6:30 PM.

She was kept on ECMO for nearly 24 hours.

By the evening of 5 December, tests showed:

No brain activity

Falling body temperature

No chance of recovery

Doctors from Apollo and AIIMS Delhi discussed the situation. They all agreed that nothing more could be done.

They informed Sasikala, her niece Deepa, nephew Deepak, and senior ministers.

Everyone agreed to withdraw ECMO slowly.

The machine was turned off around 10–11 PM, and she was declared dead at 11:30 PM.

This is clearly written in:

The AIIMS report (January 2017)

The Arumughaswamy Commission report (2022)

So what actually caused her death?

Both major investigations — the AIIMS medical board and the 2022 judicial commission — reached the same conclusion:

Jayalalithaa died due to:

Severe infection

Lung failure

Heart failure

Long-standing diabetes that made everything worse

There was no poison, no murder, no mystery body double.

People who saw her “fresh-looking” face during the funeral were surprised, but that was simply because:

She was embalmed quickly

Professional make-up was done, which is normal for VIP funerals

Why do rumours still continue?

Jayalalithaa was not just a political leader — she was like a mother figure to many.

When someone so loved dies behind closed doors, emotions take over. People find it hard to accept medical explanations.

That is why, even in 2025, many stories and rumours still float around.

But every official document available to the public says the same thing:

Her death was due to serious illness — not conspiracy.