Kejriwal's Weight Loss In Tihar Jail Sparks Health Concerns And Political Controversy

Tihar jail sources confirmed on Monday that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had only lost 2 kg in prison, and he was being regularly monitored by a medical board from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The response came a day after allegations were made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday that Kejriwal had "lost 8.5 kg" since his arrest, with claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was conspiring to harm the chief minister's health by keeping him in jail., as reported by Hindustan Times,

Kejriwal's Weight Loss Controversy - Here's What We Know

It was also alleged that the AAP national convenor was not receiving the necessary medical attention due to his diabetic condition, as reported by Hindustan Times. Unnamed sources told news agency PTI that the jail administration had written to the Delhi government's home department regarding the allegations levelled by AAP ministers and leaders, stating that such a narrative "confuses and misleads the public."

On Sunday, it was claimed by Delhi cabinet minister Atishi that Arvind Kejriwal had experienced "unexplained weight loss of 8.5 kg" since his arrest and added that his sugar levels had dropped below 50 mg/dL more than five times in prison.

Similar claims were made by AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Monday, stating that Tihar authorities had acknowledged that Arvind Kejriwal had lost weight. He asserted that the AAP chief could go into a coma or suffer a brain stroke if his sugar levels dropped while he was asleep as per Hindustan Times reports.

"It is an offence to make the medical report of any patient public. The jail administration has publicly disclosed the medical report of the Delhi chief minister several times. This proves that there is a conspiracy to endanger Arvind Kejriwal's life... Action should be taken against this," Sanjay Singh told news agency ANI.

According to Arvind Kejriwal's health report shared by Tihar sources, he weighed 65 kg when he first arrived in prison on April 1 and weighed between 66 kg from April 8 to 29, PTI reported. When he returned to prison on June 2 after a 21-day bail, his weight was 63.5 kg, it added. "On July 14, he weighed 61.5 kg. Thus, he effectively lost 2 kg," said an official source quoted by PTI.

It was added by the sources that Arvind Kejriwal was being provided home-cooked food, but he has regularly returned portions of it since June 3. The chief minister is constantly monitored by a medical board from AIIMS, and his wife Sunita Kejriwal remains in regular contact with the board, according to the sources quoted by PTI.

What did Tihar jail write in the letter?

The allegations made by the AAP regarding Arvind Kejriwal's health have been refuted by the Tihar jail administration in a letter to the Delhi government's home department, as reported by Hindustan Times. In the letter, the prison administration stated that "such a narrative confuses and misleads the public with false information and ulterior motives with intent to browbeat the prison administration".

"The blood pressure, sugar levels, and weight of the accused are regularly monitored, and he receives adequate treatment for all his ailments. He is also provided home-cooked meals thrice a day. These facts are presented in light of the media vilification carried out by vested interest groups," it added.

Arvind Kejriwal's arrest

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy 2021-22. He was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case related to the alleged scam from Tihar jail on June 26, as per media reports.

Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on Friday in the money laundering case but he remains in jail in connection with the CBI case.