Delhi court directs Tihar Jail to provide Satyendar Jain food as per rules

A Delhi court on Wednesday directed Tihar jail authorities to provide food to jailed AAP minister Satyendar Jain during his religious fast in accordance with the relevant rulesSpecial Judge Vikas Dhull passed the order while directing the jail authorities to file their reply by tomorrow containing details of food provided to Jain in the past six monthsThe court was hearing a plea moved by Jain alleging the jail administration had stopped giving him the food allowed as per law during his religious fastA fresh row erupted on Wednesday after videos emerged of the jailed minister purportedly eating uncooked vegetables and fruits in his Tihar jail cell with Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi alleging he is enjoying facilities akin to a holiday resortThe videos surfaced after he moved court alleging he is not being provided raw food according to his religious beliefs However the purported videos are dated September 13 and October 1Jains application sought a direction to Tihar officials to provide him food items like fruits dry fruits and dates as per his religious beliefs as he was observing a fastIn the facts and circumstances let Tihar Jail Administration provide the food to Satyendar Kumar Jain which is available to under trial if he is on a religious fast keeping in mind the rule the judge saidAlso Read FDA asks controller authorities to stop use of drug following patients deathHe directed the jail administration to also file its reply by Thursday as to what food was given to Jain in the past six months whether he was on religious fast during the course of previous 56 months and whether the diet which was being given has been stopped during the past 1012 daysThe judge further directed the jail administration to file a medical report of Jain including his current weight and MRI scans if any by MondayDuring the hearing the jail administration sought three days time to file a detailed report along with relevant documents which the court had sought from the jail superintendent as well as the medical officerThe court was told by senior advocate Rahul Mehra appearing for Jain that fruits vegetables and nuts which the politician was getting have been stopped by the jail authorities The lawyer said Jain was entitled to a special diet during the fastThe law officer appearing for the jail administration sought an adjournment to file a detailed reportIn the application Jain said he was a strict adherent of Jainism but he was not being provided the basic food that is partaken under his religion and medical facilities inside the prisonThe application said the Delhi Prison Rules provide for diets to be given as per the local or religious customs such as during Navratras and RamzanThe ED had during a bail hearing earlier accused Jain of getting special treatment inside the jailA Tihar jail superintendent was suspended for alleged involvement in providing special treatment to Jain in the prisonVideos purportedly showing Jain receiving massage and meeting visitors in his prison cell emerged last week sparking a major controversyJain was arrested in a money laundering case based on a CBI FIR lodged against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption ActThe court had on November 17 denied bail to Jain and two others in the caseHe is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to himThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever