Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal penned a letter to the Tihar jail superintendent on Monday, asserting his daily requirement for insulin amid a surge in his blood sugar levels, according to sources within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The sources claimed that Kejriwal rebuffed the jail authorities’ assertion, supported by AIIMS doctors, that there were no health concerns. Kejriwal accused the jail administration of falsehoods, alleging political pressure. Tihar jail authorities have yet to respond. The AAP has accused the Tihar administration of withholding insulin from Kejriwal, who has diabetes, and has raised suspicions of a plot to harm him.
Kejriwal expressed dismay over the jail authorities’ statement, insisting that he regularly requests insulin. His blood sugar levels reportedly spike three times a day, ranging from 250 to 320. Kejriwal contested the claim that AIIMS doctors found no cause for concern, stating they had not ruled out worries, and would evaluate his condition based on his medical history and data.
The Tihar administration stated on Sunday that senior AIIMS specialists conducted a detailed consultation with Kejriwal on April 20, reassuring him of no serious issues and advising him to continue his prescribed medication. Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, had requested the video conference, which also involved medical officers from Tihar jail.
The AIIMS specialist received comprehensive records of Kejriwal’s glucose levels, diet, and medication. The issue of insulin was neither raised by Kejriwal nor suggested by the doctors during the consultation. Kejriwal has been in Tihar jail since April 1 after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money-laundering case related to the Delhi government’s defunct excise policy.