Satyendar Jain, a Delhi cabinet minister, presently in jail filed a petition special court accusing the Tihar jail authorities of failing to provide him with basic food items and denying him a medical check-up. Jain, who has been imprisoned since May in connection with a money laundering case, claimed that he is on a religious fast as a strict ardent supporter of Jainism and thus cannot ingest prepared meals or pulses.

AAP leader's petition stated, "Since the applicant is on a religious fast for the last six months. The dietary intake of such food items are necessary for nourishment and survival. There is a serious risk of protein and iron deficiency if these items are not provided in view of religious fast."

Sunil Gupta, a former Tihar Jail public relations officer, stated that the viral video gave the impression that no physiotherapy was taking place. "The video clearly showed that co-prisoners were giving a massage. A massage is different from physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is given in special wards. In every jail, there is a physiotherapy centre where experts give the massage. Massage inside the cell is not permissible under jail rules," Gupta stated to ANI.

The petition also stated that the jail authorities have refused to allow him to have an MRI Scan, which was scheduled for October 21 and has been overdue since then.

All this, he claimed has breached his fundamental rights.

It is stated in the petition that "the jail authorities are functionaries of State and as such cannot take away the right to life and health physical or mental as envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. I am denied the most basic facilities such as medical check-ups, a decent diet as per the religious belief and a dignified life while undergoing trial."

The petition emphasized that Jain is an under-trial prisoner who cannot be forced to starve or give up his religious beliefs while being denied basic medical care.

"The restriction on liberty imposed by law does not take away the right to life, health, and dignity enshrined under the Constitution of India and that he is entitled to basic human rights behind bars. Should any medical mishap concerning my health would occur the Jail Authorities would be solely responsible for the same," the petition added.