High drama at Poes Garden: Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa blocked from entering aunt’s house

In what is yet another twist following the death of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, her niece Deepa Jayakumar staked claim to her Poes Garden residence in Chennai. Deepa along with her husband Madhavan arrived at Jayalalithaa’s Veda Nilayam residence at 10 am on Sunday morning, but were denied entry.

Deepa told reporters that she was being denied entry by people working on behalf of VK Sasikala’s nephew and AIADMK (Amma) Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran. She also said that her brother had called her to the property.  

Deepa’s brother Deepak is also reportedly at Poes Garden, in what appears to be a battle for Jayalalithaa’s property. With the late CM having not left behind a will, both Deepa and Deepak, who are Jayalalithaa’s brother’s children, are considered the legal heirs to the property.

Sources say that Deepak had arrived at Veda Nilayam to pay tribute to Jayalalithaa on Sunday, as it is considered an auspicious day. When Deepa heard that Deepak was at the Poes Garden residence, she arrived along with her husband. Deepa told the media that while she was allowed to the portico of the residence, where she paid tribute to her late aunt, she was denied entry by security when she tried to enter the house.

Furious at her entry being blocked, Deepa told media persons that she demanded Sasikala's pictures be removed from the property.

However, Deepak refuted this version to TNM. "Deepa and I came early this morning to Poes Garden. We went inside, we paid homage to our aunt. We both then went inside the house. I was eating a dosa in the dining room when I saw her going outside. She then started cerating this ruckus, I don't know why this problem is being created. It is a purely political ruckus," Deepak claimed to TNM.  

Veda Nilayam, which was built by Jayalalithaa and her mother, is presently occupied by only a handful of the former CM’s staff. Following her conviction in the Disproportionate Assets case, none of Sasikala’s family are staying at the Poes Garden residence. 

Chennai:Visuals from Poes Garden residence of frmr TN CM Jayalalithaa where Deepa Jayakumar, niece of Jayalalithaa reached a short while ago pic.twitter.com/YgYF2fMvRb

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 11, 2017

In the standoff between Deepa and private security, media persons were attacked in the scuffle, with national channel Republic TV's cameraperson Raghav and reporter Sanjeevi sustaining injuries.

(This is a developing story)