Satyendar Jain In ICU After Fall In Tihar Jail Bathroom

AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain has been put on oxygen support and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the LNJP hospital after his condition worsened on Thursday, the party said.

The Aam Aadmi Party said Jain was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and later, shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems.

Jain has been in prison since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year.

He collapsed due to dizziness in bathroom of Tihar Jail. Even before this, Satyendar Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury," the Aam Aadmi Party said.

Wishing speedy recovery to Jain, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances."

"A dictator is adamant to punish the person who worked day and night to provide good treatment and good health to the public. God is watching and will serve justice to all. I pray for Satyendra Jain's speedy recovery. May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances," Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

A senior jail official said that around 6 am on Thursday, undertrial prisoner Satyendar Jain slipped in the bathroom of MI room of the hospital of central jail number-7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness. He was examined by doctors and his vitals were found normal.

Jain was referred to the DDU Hospital as he complained of pain in his back, left leg and shoulder, the official said. On Monday, Jain was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital as he was feeling unwell.

Jain, who has been lodged at Tihar Jail since his arrest in connection with a money laundering case last year.

Last week senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, had told the Supreme Court the former minister has lost 35 kg and virtually became a skeleton. He is also suffering from various ailments, he had said.

The party said in a statement on Monday his health has deteriorated during his time in jail, and he requires urgent medical attention.

He was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital in the morning after he complained of extreme spinal pain, owing to his longstanding spinal condition after a fall in jail, it said.

The senior leader's condition has deteriorated after a debilitating injury from a fall in the jail washroom, which resulted in a spinal injury leaving him in excruciating pain, the party said, adding he requires an immediate spinal surgery, as recommended by his attending doctors.

The AAP said an MRI conducted on May 3 showed degeneration in all intervertebral discs of Jain leading the doctors to advise urgent spinal/vertebral surgery and proper post-operative care. However, he has been placed at No. 416 on a waiting list by Jail authorities, and is expected to be able to undergo the surgery only after a further five months, it said.

He is also suffering from sleep apnea with his breathing frequently seizing during sleep at night. He has to sleep with the assistance of a BiPAP machine which continuously pushes air into his lungs.

On account of his religious beliefs, he has pledged to not consume a single grain of food before he visits a temple. He only consumes fruits and raw vegetables inside the jail, the party said.

He has lost 35 kilograms due to the effects of muscular atrophy, it said.

"His spirit has been severely tested, and the weight of depression has settled upon him," the statement said.

The opposition BJP has targeted AAP after purported videos of Jain getting massage inside the jail had emerged last year.