A Delhi court on Monday noted that the items included in the home-cooked food sent to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar jail were different from what was prescribed by his own doctor.
Special Judge for CBI and ED cases Kaveri Baweja observed that the jail authorities have not explained why the food items, which were not as per Kejriwal’s medical prescription, were allowed to be sent to him.
The court’s observation comes days after the Enforcement Directorate alleged that Kejriwal, a diabetic, was consuming mangoes, aloo puri, and sweets daily to raise his blood sugar level to make grounds for medical bail.
The court on Monday ruled that Kejriwal will continue to be provided with home-cooked food on the condition that it will comply strictly with a diet plan prescribed by an AIIMS medical board, which will include senior endocrinologists and diabetologists.
Until the medical board provides a diet plan, Kejriwal’s family has been instructed to strictly follow the diet chart prescribed by his doctor and the court’s order from April 1, when he was sent to judicial custody.
The Tihar jail authorities must ensure that there is no deviation in Kejriwal’s food items from the medically prescribed diet, the court said.
The court gave the order while rejecting Kejriwal’s plea seeking daily consultation with his family doctor via video call.
The court further said Kejriwal’s plea to be administered insulin cannot be accepted only on his word since he suffers from hyperglycemia, a condition in which there is too much sugar (glucose) in the blood.
The AIIMS medical board was asked to submit a report on whether Kejriwal currently requires insulin. If any intervention is needed, the final decision will be taken by jail authorities in consultation with the medical board, the court said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been alleging that the Chief Minister is being denied insulin and being pushed towards a “slow death”. Kejriwal is currently lodged in Tihar jail after he was arrested in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.
