A Delhi court has dismissed wrestler Sushil Kumar’s plea seeking to provide special diet and supplements inside the jail. Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar is an accused in the alleged murder of a young wrestler and is currently in jail.
Earlier, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satveer Singh Lamba had reserved the verdict after hearing the arguments of the prosecution and defense lawyers. Sushil Kumar is facing charges of murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and kidnapping and is lodged in Delhi’s Mandoli Jail.
In the petition, Kumar’s lawyers Pradeep Rana, Kumar Vaibhav and Satwik Mishra had said that their client takes supplements like Isolate Whey Protein, Omega-3 Capsules, Joint Capsules, Pre-Workout C4, Multivitamins etc. It said the refusal to provide these essentials would have a negative impact on Kumar’s career as special nutritional diets and supplements are essential to maintain his health and performance.
The jail authorities, in their reply in the court, have said that Kumar’s medical condition does not require additional protein in the form of food supplements or dietary supplements. On this, Rana said that the demand for special diet and supplements has been made at the personal cost of Sushil Kumar, the jail authorities will not have to bear its expenses.
The judge further said it is apparent that basic needs and necessities of the accused are being taken care of in the jail as per the provisions of Delhi Prisons Rule, 2018.
“It is well settled law that all the persons, whether natural or juristic are equal in the eyes of law irrespective of their caste, religion, sex, class, etc. Right to equality is a basic feature of the Indian Constitution,” the court stated in the order.
Sushil Kumar was arrested on May 23 in the murder case and sent to nine-day judicial custody on June 2.