Treatment Provided to Chidambaram Not Satisfactory Alleges Family

Family of P Chidambaram has alleged unsatisfactory treatment provided to him suffering from Crohn’s.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram. 

(Photo: The Quint) 

Hours after a Delhi court extended P Chidambaram's judicial custody on Wednesday 13 November, in the INX media money laundering case till 27 November, his family said the treatment being given to him in Tihar jail for Crohn's disease is not satisfactory and he continues to lose weight due to "aggravation" of the disease.

Family sources told PTI that Chidambaram has lost around 8-9 kgs since his detention.

“We are not satisfied with the treatment given to him in the prison. He is suffering a lot. He has to be immediately brought under the treatment of noted gastroenterologist in Hyderabad Dr. Nageshwara Reddy as he knows about his health as he had treated him in 2016,” a source said.

After Reddy's treatment, he was somewhat feeling better, the sources said.

"We are waiting for the Delhi High Court's order on his bail plea which is reserved since 8 November," the source added.

Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on 21 August in the INX Media corruption case.

On Wednesday, Chidambaram was produced before the court through video conference as the lawyers are on strike. The court extended his judicial custody till 27 November in the INX Media money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, on 15 May 2017, had registered an FIR against Chidambaram for alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance provided to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when he was the finance minister.

The money laundering case was registered by the ED in 2018.

Earlier, disposing off Chidambaram's bail plea, the Delhi High Court had directed Tihar Jail authorities to provide him clean surroundings, mineral water, home-cooked food and protection from mosquitoes.

The court had also directed that Chidambaram's medical check up be done regularly.

Besides Crohn's disease, the Congress leader, a Rajya Sabha member from Tamil Nadu, also suffers from Dyslipidemia, Coronary Artery Disease, Hypertension, Glycemia and Prostatomegaly.