The Tihar jail administration in its factual report to the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has made startling revelation on Saturday in regards to the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s health, stating that “Kejriwal himself said that he was taking insulin for a few years and stopped the dosage a few months back on the advice of a Telangana doctor”.
The report, which was sought by the LG from the Tihar authorities, claimed, “The inmate/UTP gave history that he was taking insulin till last few years and stopped insulin a few months back allegedly by the Telangana doctor but no document was placed for the alleged history.”
Further, it states that the AAP chief was neither advised to take any insulin nor any requirement of any insulin was indicated. “As per MLC report available from RML Hospital, he was neither advised of any insulin nor any requirement of any insulin was indicated. It is reiterated that on April 10 and April 15 he was reviewed by medicine specialist and advised oral anti diabetic drugs/medicines,” the jail authorities said.
The report submitted by the Director General of Prisons to the LG brought out several claims that contradict the statements given by Kejriwal in the court on Friday where he accused the prison authorities of denying him insulin dosage, with AAP leaders terming it as “slow death”.
Meanwhile, reacting to the report, Delhi Minister Atishi calls it a “conspiracy of BJP”, while claiming that Kejriwal has been taking insulin regularly. “Before going to jail, CM Kejriwal used to take 50 units of insulin daily for the last 12 years. Why does the jail administration have a problem in giving insulin to CM Kejriwal?” she questioned, claiming that at the behest of BJP, a conspiracy is going on to kill Kejriwal in Tihar jail.
The report suggests that Kejriwal, who has been lodged in the jail since April 1 in alleged excise policy linked money laundering case, was just taking a basic anti-diabetes oral medicine tablet Metformin.
“He was taking oral anti diabetic medicine as well as treatment for chronic constipation as prescribed by RML doctors. He allegedly gave a history of one episode of hypoglycemia while in custody (outside the jail). He was prescribed appropriate antidiabetic treatment and was advised self-monitoring blood glucose levels, which was done by CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) as well as by Glucometer occasionally, further he was also prescribed appropriate treatment for chronic constipation and cough,” the report stated.
The doctors after examining Kejriwal, also noted, “Considering all parameters and vitals of the UTP (Kejriwal) since his lodgment in judicial custody, his blood sugar levels are not alarming, and administration of insulin is not required as of now.”
Further the report mentions the diet plan provided by AIIMS for Kejriwal has “strictly prohibited” fried food including Poori, Paratha, Samosa, Pakora, Namkeen, Bhujia, Pickles and Papad.
He has also been asked to not consume sweets, cake, jam, chocolate, sugar, jaggery, honey and ice-cream. Fruits like mango, banana, chikoo, litchi and grapes are not given to him.
Further, vegetables like potato and arbi, fatty food like ghee, egg-yolk, butter and full cream milk and salt on table are strictly prohibited. Kejriwal is only allowed to consume 20 ml of oil per day in his food.
Notably, Tihar jail administration had written to AIIMS that Kejriwal has been consuming high sugar food like sweets, laddoos, bananas, mangoes, fruit chaat, fried food, namkeen, bhujia, sweetened tea, poori-aloo,pickles and other high cholesterol food on a regular basis, and accordingly sought a diet plan for Kejriwal.
Tihar jail has also said that as per a Government circular, no referral can be made to any private hospital, as demanded by the national general convenor of AAP. In its detailed report to Saxena, the prison administration states that there is adequate availability of insulin in the dispensary of Tihar jail and the same could be administered / provided to Kejriwal as and when required during his treatment.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the Delhi government’s now-scrapped excise policy. He has been lodged in Tihar jail since April 1. According to the medical records from RML Hospital, Kejriwal was “neither advised any insulin nor any requirement of any insulin was indicated”, the Tihar report said and added that the Chief Minister’s health was reviewed by a medicine specialist on April 10 and April 15.
