Authorities of the Tihar Central Jail on Friday informed a special court hearing the cash-for-votes scam case that the former Samajwadi Party leader, Amar Singh, was being kept in a separate cell under hygienic conditions.
On Thursday, Hariharan, counsel for Mr. Amar Singh, claimed that he was kept in a normal cell and had to share a common toilet with other prisoners, and the chances of his contracting further infections were high if he was not kept in a sterile environment.
A complete medical report on the condition of Mr. Amar Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, was not dispatched by the jail officials; they were awaiting the results of the tests conducted on his urine and blood samples. The report that was faxed to the court included a letter from the jail superintendent, explaining the conditions in which Mr. Singh was being held, besides written notes from the jail medical officer.
Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal directed that the results of the tests be submitted by 11 a.m. on Monday, while posting further arguments on Mr. Amar Singh's interim bail application to 2 p.m. that day.
The authorities reported that Mr. Amar Singh was being kept in a cell in ward no. 4 of jail no. 3, which had 20 cells, each measuring 22 feet x 8 feet. The report said each cell had good ventilation and separate toilet facilities, and conditions were hygienic.
The report also mentioned that Mr. Amar Singh initially refused to give his blood sample, which Mr. Hariharan attributed to the fear of unhygienic conditions. The officials also said the prisoner did not complain of any health problem since his incarceration. Furthermore, his cell was close to the jail hospital, they said, and in case of emergency, they had well-equipped ambulances to take patients to appropriate hospitals.
Mr. Hariharan said the court should not give much importance to the jail superintendent's observations, and it should only go by the doctor's report. He also wondered how the jail doctor could arrive at an informed decision on Mr. Amar Singh's condition unless he also went through records pertaining to the entire medical history.
“Today's report itself says the patient [Mr. Amar Singh] is not having his past medical records with him.”
Mr. Hariharan added that what was conducted on Mr. Singh was a “cursory examination,” and that the court should wait for the blood and urine test results before passing an order on his bail petition.
