Jailed AAP minister Satyendar Jain on Monday filed a petition in a Delhi court seeking a direction to the Tihar authorities to provide him food items according to his religious beliefs.
The application, which is likely to come up for hearing before Special Judge Vikas Dhull on Tuesday, also sought a direction to the jail authorities to immediately conduct a medical examination of the minister. Advocate Mohd Irshad said it was alleged that Jain was not being provided basic food and medical facilities inside the jail.
The application alleged that since the day of Jain’s arrest on May 31, he has not been able to visit a Jain temple, and “being a strict Jain religious observer, he is on a religious fast and has consumed food, pulses, The grain is not made.” and milk products”. It was claimed that he was “a strict follower of Jainism”.
“For the past about six months, he has been surviving only on fruits, vegetables, seeds and dry fruits or dates. This he was buying from his quota of rations available to all the prisoners. Meanwhile, he suffered a major fall in jail which resulted in a severe spinal injury, for which he was treated at LNJP Hospital. He also has spots in his lungs, which is a post-Covid symptom.”
It states that for the last 12 days the jail administration has stopped providing them basic food items as per their religious beliefs.
“The jail administration has stopped giving fruits or vegetables, mixed seeds, dry fruits and dates to the applicant. Since the applicant has been on a religious fast for the last six months – dietary intake of such basic food item is necessary for his sustenance, nutrition and survival. Due to the said religious fasting – there is a serious risk of protein and iron deficiency and therefore, the said diet was prescribed by doctors or dieticians in the jail and hospital.”
The application further states that withholding of food items during religious fasting amounts to “illegal”, “arbitrary” and “oppression”.
“The applicant is being kept hungry by the jail authorities and is not being provided sustenance or nutrition to maintain his well-being. The applicant is entitled to the said basic food item in view of his religious beliefs and fasting,” the application said, adding that the Delhi Jail Rules provide for religious food to be served during local or religious customs such as Navratras and Ramzan.
The application states that Jain was to undergo a medical check-up including MRI scan on October 21, but was not allowed to do so by the jail authorities “on one pretext or the other”.
“The applicant has a right to a dignified human life,” it said.
Jain was arrested in a money laundering case on the basis of an FIR lodged by the CBI in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court had on November 17 refused bail to Jain and two others in the case.
He is accused of money laundering through four companies allegedly linked to him.
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