In a fresh setback, court denies interim bail to P Chidambaram
The Congress leader had submitted that his condition is deteriorating and needs to be in a sterile environment.
New Delhi: Incarcerated former finance minister P. Chidambaram does not require hospitalisation for his ailments, the Delhi high court was informed on Friday. The Tihar jail authorities, nonetheless, were directed to take a slew of steps for his wellbeing.
The court was hearing 74-year-old Chidamba-ram’s plea for interim bail in the money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on medical grounds.
The Congress leader had submitted that his condition is deteriorating and needs to be in a sterile environment.
Solicitor general Tushar Mehta read out the report of AIIMS Medical Board, set up on the court’s order to examine the Congress leader’s health condition, and said he does not require a sterile environment.
Justice Suresh Kait, who was hearing Mr Chid-ambaram’s interim bail application, directed the Tihar jail superintendent to provide clean and hygienic surrounding to the veteram Congress leader as also home-cooked food, mineral water, a mosquito protection net and repellant. The court also directed that Mr Chidambaram’s medical check up be done regularly.
The court disposed of the plea after senior law-yer Kapil Sibal, representing Mr Chidambaram, said they did not require any further direction.
The court had on Thursday directed the AIIMS director to constitute a medical board to give opinion on the health of Mr Chidambaram, who is suffering from Crohn’s disease or the inflammation of the digestive tract leading to abdominal pain, diarrhoea and also weight loss.
The high court had said that the Hyderabad-based gastroenterologist Nage-shwar Reddy, who has been treating the Cong-ress leader, be included in the board to give his opinion on Mr Chidambaram’s medical condition.
Mr Chidambaram has sought interim bail in the case.