Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had refused to go to hospital hours before she fainted at her house on September 22, 2016, her close aide VK Sasikala has told the judicial panel investigating her death. She claimed that Jayalalithaa’s health problems were mainly because of stress resulting from her conviction in an illegal assets case, The Hindu reported on Wednesday.

The jailed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader made the claims in a 55-page affidavit that she filed to the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission on March 12. The state government had set up the commission in September 2017.

Jayalalithaa was taken to hospital on September 22, 2016, and she died on December 5 that year.

Sasikala said Jayalalithaa was in the bathroom when she called out for help around 9.30 pm on September 22. She claimed she helped Jayalalithaa to her bed after which the 68-year-old leader fainted and was taken to hospital. However, earlier in the same day, she had rejected Sasikala’s suggestion to go to hospital after a doctor examined her twice, the affidavit read.

In the affidavit, Sasikala said the stress after Jayalalithaa’s conviction in 2014 adversely affected her health while high blood sugar levels hampered her mobility. Jayalalithaa’s health deteriorated in the first week of September 2016.

Sasikala gave the panel a list of 20 doctors who treated Jayalalithaa between November 2014 and September 2016. A member of Sasikala’s legal team told The Hindu that they wanted these doctors to testify before the panel.

The affidavit also claimed that AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and M Thambi Durai and former Governor Vidyasagar Rao met Jayalalithaa in hospital in September and October 2016.