Chidambaram to remain in jail

New Delhi, November 1

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who is in the custody of enforcement agencies and judicial remand for over 10 weeks in the INX Media case, does not require hospitalisation for his ailments, the Delhi High Court was informed today even as the Tihar jail authorities were directed to take a slew of steps for his wellbeing.

The court was hearing 74-year-old Chidambaram’s plea for interim bail in the money-laundering case filed by the ED on medical grounds. The Congress leader had submitted that his condition was deteriorating and he needed to be in a sterile environment.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta read out the report of the AIIMS medical board set up on the court’s order to examine Chidambaram’s health condition, and told Justice Suresh Kait the former Union Minister was physically examined by doctors on Friday morning and the assessment was that he did not require a sterile environment. The doctors also opined that hospitalisation was not required and he be treated as an outpatient.

After going through the report, the court directed the Tihar Jail Superintendent that the surroundings of Chidambaram should be clean and hygienic and he should be provided home-cooked food, mineral water, mosquito protection net and repellant and his dwelling area be cleaned twice a day. — PTI