Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of politicizing his dietary habits in prison, alleging that the agency is attempting to manipulate his health condition to deny him bail. The assertion comes amid a legal battle over Kejriwal’s access to insulin and medical consultations while in custody at Tihar Jail.
Kejriwal’s statements follow the ED’s claim that he is consuming sugary foods to manipulate his blood sugar levels and create grounds for medical bail. Responding to these allegations, Kejriwal’s counsel argued before the court that his dietary choices were in accordance with a prescribed diet chart provided by his doctor prior to his arrest.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, denounced the ED’s accusations as baseless and politically motivated. He emphasized that the meals consumed by Kejriwal were largely compliant with his prescribed diet, with only occasional deviations.
The ED’s allegations include claims that Kejriwal regularly consumes mangoes and sweets, despite being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. However, Singhvi refuted these claims, stating that mangoes were only included in a few meals out of the many provided from home, and that artificial sweeteners were used in place of sugar.
Furthermore, Kejriwal’s legal team sought daily consultations with his physician and access to insulin, citing his diabetic condition. The plea, which also requested video conferencing with the doctor for 15 minutes daily, awaits a decision from the court, scheduled for April 22.
Kejriwal’s insulin demand
The controversy surrounding Kejriwal’s health intensified as the Tihar Jail authorities contradicted his claims, asserting that he did not require insulin and that his dietary habits were not in line with his prescribed diet. The jail authorities argued that they were adequately equipped to address his medical needs and that his blood sugar levels could drastically drop if he were to use insulin.
However, Kejriwal’s supporters have alleged a conspiracy, accusing the ED and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating efforts to harm his health and deny him proper medical care while in custody. They condemned the ED’s public disclosure of Kejriwal’s purported diet chart, questioning the legality and ethics of such actions.
The legal battle over Kejriwal’s medical access underscores the broader political tensions surrounding his arrest in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. As the court prepares to rule on his plea for insulin and medical consultations, the case raises significant questions about the intersection of health, law, and politics in India’s legal system.
