Tihar Jail Refutes AAP Claims on Kejriwal's Health, Ensures Regular Monitoring

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has lost only 2 kg in prison, and his health is being regularly monitored by a medical board from AIIMS, according to Tihar jail authorities. They refuted claims by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that his health was deteriorating. However, AAP leaders, including Delhi minister Atishi, claimed that a leaked report corroborated their fears about Kejriwal's low sugar levels and potential risk of slipping into a coma.

Since Kejriwal's arrest on March 21 in connection with the excise policy-linked money laundering case, there has been ongoing tension between AAP and the Tihar jail administration over his health condition. AAP alleges that he is not receiving the necessary medical attention. Atishi stated on Sunday that Kejriwal, who is diabetic, faces an acute health risk due to unexplained weight loss of 8.5 kg and dangerously low sugar levels.

Claims and Counterclaims

The BJP has accused AAP leaders of using medical issues as rhetoric whenever a court hearing in Kejriwal's case approaches to facilitate bail. The Tihar administration's report sent to the Delhi government's Home Department shared Kejriwal's vitals and stated that the narrative created by AAP ministers misleads the public. The report mentioned that Kejriwal weighed 65 kg when he first came to prison on April 1 and 66 kg between April 8 and 29. Upon returning to prison on June 2 after a 21-day bail, his weight was 63.5 kg, and on July 14, it was 61.5 kg.

According to the report, Kejriwal has been eating home-cooked food in jail but often sends back portions of his meals. The prison administration claimed that AAP's narrative with false information aimed to browbeat it. "The blood pressure, sugar levels, and weight of the accused are regularly monitored, and he receives adequate treatment for all his ailments," it said.

Medical Monitoring

A medical board from AIIMS has been constantly monitoring the chief minister's health, with his wife Sunita Kejriwal remaining in regular touch with the board. These facts were brought on record in light of media vilification carried out by vested interest groups, according to the Tihar report.

Atishi reiterated her concerns on Monday, stating that doctors would confirm that a sudden drop in blood sugar levels for a diabetes patient can be fatal within 20-30 minutes, potentially leading to coma, brain stroke, haemorrhage, or even death. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh also highlighted that the leaked report showed Kejriwal had lost weight and suffered multiple hypoglycemia episodes in jail.

Political Reactions

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed that whenever a court hearing in Kejriwal's case is near, AAP leaders resort to rhetoric about his medical issues like weight loss and declining blood sugar levels. He alleged that Kejriwal eats home-cooked food daily in jail and suggested that if he is losing weight, it means his food lacks nutrients intentionally to facilitate bail.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised AAP during a press conference, saying "AAP doesn’t stand for Aam Aadmi Party but for ‘Aur Adhik Propaganda’ and ‘Aur Adhik Prapanch’." He referred to the report stating that despite allegations of an 8 kg weight loss and conspiracy claims about killing him inside jail, the truth had come out.

Allegations of Conspiracy

AAP's Sanjay Singh accused BJP of playing with Kejriwal's life and called for a probe into the leaking of someone's medical report. He reiterated that even the leaked medical report from Tihar jail authorities indicated weight loss and multiple hypoglycemia episodes for Kejriwal in prison.

Atishi alleged that BJP has put Kejriwal's life in danger and urged them to stop politicising the issue. She accused BJP of stooping so low as to leak documents from Tihar administration claiming no problem with Kejriwal's health.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. Although recently granted bail by the Supreme Court, he remains in judicial custody due to a related case following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26.