Tihar Jail Refutes AAP’s Claims Of Arvind Kejriwal’s Weight Loss

A dispute has erupted between the Tihar Jail administration and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regarding the health of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his incarceration. On Sunday, AAP accused the BJP of orchestrating a “fake case” against Kejriwal and alleged severe health risks due to his imprisonment. Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi claimed that Kejriwal, who is a diabetic, experienced a drastic weight loss of 8.5 kg and dangerously low sugar levels, with his sugar levels reportedly falling below 50 on five occasions.

Atishi expressed grave concerns over Kejriwal’s health, asserting that his condition posed an acute danger due to his diabetes. She suggested that the BJP was using the judicial process to undermine Kejriwal’s health and create a public spectacle.

In response, the Tihar Jail administration has rejected these claims, stating that the Delhi Chief Minister’s health parameters remain stable. According to the jail authorities, Kejriwal’s weight loss is significantly less than reported by AAP. They provided a detailed update, stating that Kejriwal initially weighed 65 kg upon his arrival at the prison on April 1. Between April 8 and 29, his weight was recorded as 66 kg. After returning to prison on June 2 following a 21-day bail period, his weight was noted at 63.5 kg, and as of July 14, it had decreased to 61.5 kg—indicating a weight loss of just 2 kg.

The Tihar Jail administration has formally communicated with the Delhi Home Department, denouncing AAP’s allegations as misleading and intended to pressure the prison administration. The letter emphasized that Kejriwal’s health—including his blood pressure and sugar levels—is closely monitored, and he receives regular medical treatment along with home-cooked meals.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed AAP’s claims as theatrical. They argue that Kejriwal had campaigned extensively during the Lok Sabha elections without showing any signs of health issues. BJP Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva criticized AAP for what he described as a “poor health drama,” suggesting that Kejriwal’s health concerns are a ploy to mislead the court and secure bail.

Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, in connection with a corruption case related to Delhi’s scrapped liquor policy, has been a focal point of controversy. Despite temporary bail granted for election campaigning, Kejriwal has returned to Tihar Jail to continue serving his sentence. The Supreme Court recently granted interim bail to Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam. However, he remains in jail until he secures bail in the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case.