Arvind Kejriwal Lost 4.5 Kg Since Arrest, Claims AAP's Atishi; No Change in Weight, Say Tihar Jail Sources

Even as Delhi Minister Atishi on Wednesday raised concerns over the health of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and CM Arvind Kejriwal, claiming he has lost 4.5 kg in 12 days since his arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case, sources from Tihar jail said his weight was the same – 65 kg — since Monday, when he was brought in. Atishi, however, said that officials “reporting to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can’t be trusted”.

“Kejriwal is severely diabetic. His sugar levels are monitored through the day and he has to take insulin injections, medicines and food. Diabetes affects kidney, nervous system, etc. If sugar levels fall below 50, there is a threat to life. Ideally, it should not fall below 80… In Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) custody, his sugar levels fell thrice, once to 46,” said Atishi. “Kejriwal has never let his health come in the way of working for the country, even fasting at Jantar Mantar and Sundarnagri. Ever since the BJP-ruled central government has arrested him, he has lost 4.5 kg in the past 12 days. Such rapid weight loss can create health complications. Even for healthy people, such rapid weight loss is worrisome,” she said.

Tihar jail sources, however, disagreed. “The Delhi CM’s health is absolutely fine. His weight is 65 kg, the same as what was recorded the day he entered Tihar. His sugar level is in control and he has not faced any health issue. He spoke to his wife last afternoon through a video call, which lasted for approximately 1.5 minutes. He is being given home-cooked food, as ordered by the court. Tihar jail doctors and administration are monitoring his health,” they said.

Atishi rubbished Tihar officials’ claim. “Officers reporting to the BJP cannot be trusted,” she said.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22. He was sent from the custody of the agency to 14-day judicial custody in Tihar jail on Monday.

COUNTRY WON’t FORGIVE…: ATISHI | KEJRIWAL GIVEN HOME-COOKED FOOD, SAY ED SOURCES

“The country is looking at the BJP. It can go to any extent to crush the AAP. If Kejriwal’s health deteriorates while in custody, the country will not forgive [those responsible for it]. We are monitoring his health condition closely. We will take whatever legal remedies are necessary. We will talk to our lawyers after the decision on the petition in the high court.”

Responding to the BJP’s defamation case against her, Atishi said, “The BJP is hiding behind such cases and agencies to fight us. I have already said that the person who tried to poach me is close to me…”

Earlier, Sunita Kejriwal, chief minister’s wife, had shared details on his health and said that he has diabetes, and although his sugar levels were irregular, his determination was strong.

Sources in the ED said Kejriwal was taken care of while in custody. “We assigned a team to monitor his health and his diet requirements. His sugar level was monitored daily and it was fine with the medical team. He was in good health. The custodial interrogation was also limited, based on daily requirements of the investigation. We had kept everything he needed. There were candies and other food items as advised by the medical team,” said a senior officer.

A prison official said that Kejriwal paced up and down his 14×8 feet cell on his first night in Tihar jail, managing only to sleep for a while.

KEJRIWAL’s PLEA IN HC TODAY

The Delhi CM’s health update comes hours before the Delhi high court is set to hear his plea challenging his arrest and remand of trial court. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had issued notice to the ED on Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest on March 21 and subsequent remand to the agency on March 22 till March 28.

On March 27, the HC refused to grant him interim relief, seeking the agency’s stand.

Kejriwal demanded kickbacks from the so-called South Group and his AAP was involved in money laundering, the ED has said in its reply to the leader’s plea, exclusively accessed by CNN-News18 on Tuesday.

The ED, which probes financial crimes, also repeated its charge that Kejriwal “disobeyed” multiple summonses sent to him before his arrest on March 21, and that he did not cooperate in the investigation.

Responding to the ED’s reply, the AAP branded the central agency’s charge of money laundering as “lies”, saying even the Supreme Court (SC) had said no money trail has been established in the case.

On Tuesday, the SC granted bail to AAP RS MP Sanjay Singh, however, mentioning it wouldn’t be a precedent for other accused in the case.