May 25, 2023
Delhi’s former Health Minister, Satyendar Jain, has been hospitalized and transferred to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following a fall in the bathroom of Tihar Jail, where he has been detained for over a year on money laundering charges. This incident marks the second time within a week that Mr Jain required medical attention, raising concerns about his deteriorating health.
On Monday, Mr Jain was examined at Safdarjung Hospital for a spinal injury sustained from a previous fall in the jail’s bathroom, as confirmed by jail officials. The former minister appeared frail, having lost approximately 35 kg since his arrest, and was seen at the hospital with a belt strapped around his waist. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stated that Mr Jain suffers from sleep apnea and requires a BiPAP machine while sleeping.
Prior to this incident, Mr Jain was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital on Saturday, where he underwent various tests, including a CT scan and an MRI. Hospital sources reported that his condition was stable, but he remained under observation.
According to prison officials, on Thursday at around 6 am, Mr Jain slipped and fell in the bathroom of the MI Room of the hospital where he was being observed for general weakness. He was promptly examined by doctors, and although his vitals were normal, he complained of pain in his back, left leg, and shoulder. Consequently, he was referred to DDU Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
Mr Jain’s colleagues and supporters have expressed deep concern over his health, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which holds power at the federal level and opposes the AAP, of attempting to harm him. In response, the BJP cited Mr Jain’s previous weight as evidence that his weight loss was beneficial, attributing it to his religious practice of eating only once a day.
Chief Minister of Delhi and AAP founder, Arvind Kejriwal, shared a photograph of a frail-looking Mr Jain sitting in a chair at the hospital with two police officers nearby. Mr Kejriwal offered prayers for his recovery and condemned the alleged arrogance and atrocities of the BJP. He emphasized that the people of Delhi support Mr Jain and that their fight against oppression, injustice, and dictatorship will continue.
Satyendar Jain’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, had previously informed the Supreme Court that his client had become a “skeleton” due to various ailments and had lost 35 kg in weight. Mr Jain, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May of the previous year on charges of money laundering through shell companies and illegal land purchases, has consistently denied the allegations, considering them politically motivated.
Mr Jain was a prominent member of Mr Kejriwal’s cabinet, holding significant portfolios such as health, home, and urban development. Despite being incarcerated, he resigned from his ministerial posts in January of this year.
The latest incident involving Satyendar Jain’s health has raised concerns about his well-being and the conditions within Tihar Jail. The legal proceedings and investigations related to his case will likely receive increased attention in the coming days as his supporters demand proper medical care and treatment for the former minister.
