Former Health Minister Satyendar Jain of Delhi has been hospitalized after collapsing in the bathroom of Tihar Jail, where he has been detained on money laundering charges since last year. This incident marks the second time within a week that Mr. Jain has required medical attention. Earlier, he was examined at Safdarjung Hospital for a spinal injury resulting from another fall in the jail’s bathroom.
Mr. Jain appeared frail at the hospital, with a belt strapped around his waist, raising concerns about his health. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stated that the former minister, who has lost approximately 35 kg since his arrest, is suffering from sleep apnea and requires a BiPAP machine while sleeping.
Before this incident, Mr Jain was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital where he underwent various tests, including a CT scan and an MRI. Although his condition was stable, he was kept under observation.
Prison officials provided a statement regarding the incident, explaining that Mr. Jain slipped and fell in the bathroom of the hospital’s MI Room, where he was under observation for general weakness. After being examined by doctors, his vitals were found to be normal. However, he was later referred to DDU Hospital due to complaints of back, leg, and shoulder pain.
Concerns about Mr. Jain’s health have been expressed by his party colleagues and supporters, who have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling party at the federal level and the AAP’s political opponent, of attempting to harm him.
The BJP responded to these allegations, pointing out that Mr. Jain was overweight before his arrest and suggesting that his weight loss was positive. Delhi BJP leader Vijendra Gupta attributed the weight loss to Mr. Jain’s religious beliefs, stating that he had been eating only one meal a day.
Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi and founder of the AAP shared a photo on Twitter showing a frail-looking Mr. Jain seated in a chair at the hospital, with two police officers nearby. Mr. Kejriwal expressed his prayers for Mr. Jain’s better health and criticized the BJP for its alleged arrogance and atrocities. He vowed to continue the fight against oppression, injustice, and dictatorship.
Satyendar Jain held several portfolios, including health, home, and urban development, as a prominent member of Mr Kejriwal’s cabinet. He resigned from his ministerial posts in January of this year while still in jail. Mr. Jain’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, has argued in the Supreme Court that his client has lost a significant amount of weight and is suffering from various ailments. Mr. Jain has consistently denied the money laundering charges against him, claiming they are politically motivated.
Satyendar Jain, the former Health Minister of Delhi, collapsed in the bathroom of Tihar Jail, where he has been detained on money laundering charges. Concerns about his health have arisen, as he has required hospitalization multiple times and has lost a significant amount of weight. The AAP has accused the BJP of attempting to harm Mr. Jain, while the BJP maintains that his weight loss is a result of his religious practices. Mr. Jain’s lawyer has argued that his client’s health has deteriorated, and he denies the charges against him, stating they are politically motivated.
