Jayalalitha didn’t open then against Sasikala but kept things to her heart. Rather, she opted for an independent medical check up by an eminent doctor and it was revealed she was being given
sedatives and chemical substances containing small quantities of poison daily in her food, according to the news story.
She also got the word that bureaucracy and administrative circles were talking about the growing influence of Sasikala. She thought she had better act fast. But then she was well aware of the grip Sasikala had over the bureaucracy and administrative set up.
Jaya smelt trouble when a land grab case had been registered against MK Stalin, son of former chief minister M Karunanidhi without her knowledge. Days before the case was registered, she directed the officials that cases against family members of Karunanidhi should be registered only if the cases were strong and strong evidence was available.
Jayalalitha sought an explanation from the then intelligence chief Pon Manickavel on the issue and he told her the case was registered on the instructions of Sasikala. Jaya then came to know that Sasikala had a secret deal with DMK family.
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Machinations of Sasikala and her back stabbing moves-2
To be continued tomorrow
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Luckily for Jaya, Bangalore intelligence police also helped her. Sasikala and her family members held a secret meeting at a guest house in Bangalore where the disproportionate income cases against Jayalalitha and her possible successors as CM were seriously debated.
As the room where the Sasikala gang met was bugged by Karnataka intelligence officers, they could obtain the tapes of conversation easily. They were shocked to know that the discussions were centered on Jaya cases and her succession. With out delay, Shanker Bidari, DGP Karnataka sent the tapes to K Ramanujam, Director-General of Police (DGP), Tamil Nadu. Ultimately, the TN police chief personally went to Jaya and handed over the tapes.
The conversation came as a shock to Jaya as it indicated a conspiracy. She immediately ordered the DGP to keep a track of the movements of Sasikala and her gang known as the Mannargudi mafia. The DGP hired a private detective agency and Sasikala’s phones were tapped secretly. For five days continuously, daily reports were sent to the Chief Minister directly.
Jaya wanted to be strategic in her approach in dealing with Sasikala as she knew very well that the tentacles of Sasikala and her family have spread far and wide among the administrative set up. In fact, Sasikala had the resources and enough money power to challenge the authority of Jaya if it comes to that.
The first change Jaya therefore made was in the intelligence wing of the police which was a hot bed of Sasikala’s loyalists. Thamarai Kannan, who had no links with the Sasikala family members, was appointed as the Inspector General (IG), Intelligence wing and asked to affect changes in the entire setup. Jaya asked him to report to her directly.
Jaya also removed her personal security officer Thirumalai Swami who had been working for the last 10 years. Jaya came to know Sasikala asked him to keep a keep a watch on her movements. (JUBS)
