The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
CM seeks insulin, jail officials say his sugar levels normal
FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS that he was eating mangoes in jail to increase his insulin level in order to secure bail, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday informed the Rouse Avenue Court that the fruit was sent from his home only thrice after his arrest on march 21. Besides, Kejriwal said, he had sugar-free sweets six times.
As the court heard his application to allow him to have insulin in jail owing to his diabetic condition, Kejriwal, through his counsel, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that “just because he’s an undertrial prisoner, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have rights.” Kejriwal has also requested online consultation with a private doctor every day for 15 minutes in the presence of his wife Sunita.
The Enforcement Directorate (Ed) had on thursday alleged that the CM, presently lodged in Tihar Jail after being arrested in the Delhi excise policy case by the agency, was deliberately eating mangoes and other food to raise his blood sugar level.
“How petty and political the ED can get. The CM will hover on the edge of death, just to get out on a medical bail...?,” argued Singhvi. “Is the CM a gangster? Can’ t hebe allowed onevc( video call) for 15 minutes with a doctor daily?” quipped Singhvi.
Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta, who also appeared for Kejriwal, said, “... agar aam aadmi aam nahi khaayega, toh kya mushroom khayega (What would a common man eat, if not mangoes? Mushrooms?)”
Representing the ED, Special Counselzo he bhossa in, however, claimed that there were deviations between the home-cooked food that Kejriwal was eating and the diet prescribed by his doctor. “The prescribed diet has no reference to any fruits, sweets. It appears to be a very restricted and regulated diet,” said Hossain.
On the other hand, the counsel for the jail authorities submitted that the CM’S sugar levels would drop drastically if he took insulin. He added that Kejriwal’s sugar levels were normal on most days. “Home-cooked food has to follow the prescribed diet... Otherwise, I will have to submit that homecooked food is not allowed as per prison rules,” he added.
Comparing the home-cooked food and the prescribed diet, Special JudgeKaveri Baweja observed that there were slight deviations. she then requested singh vi to file a chart showing the deviations. “There are only three minor deviations...,” said Singhvi.
The ED asked the court if they could ask ana ii ms doctor to check if the CM needed insulin. Following this, the court asked Singhvi whether a medical board should be constituted.
“I’ m merely asking for a meeting with my doctor for 15 minutes a day,” submitted Kejriwal through Singhvi. On the other hand, Gupta submitted in court that many fruits sent from the CM’S house were sent back.
After the arguments concluded, the court reserved orders for Monday asking the ED and jail authorities to file a reply to Kejriwal’s application requesting insulin intake and consultation with his doctors throughvc for 15 minutes daily. Kejriwal’s diet included eggs, poha, namkeen ,banana, upma, uttapam, roti, puri sabji, salad, raj ma, rice, tea, man go, papaya and sweets, as per the submission soft he ED.