Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) A Delhi court Tuesday deferred for two days hearing on the interim bail plea of Rajya Sabha member and former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh in the cash-for-votes scam. Singh is admitted to AIIMS for a kidney complaint.

Special Judge Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal posted the matter for Thursday after directing the Tihar Jail superintendent and director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to submit a complete medical report on the 55-year-old leader by 12 p.m. Wednesday.

“The jail authorities are directed to furnish a complete report on the medical condition of the accused which necessitated his shifting to the AIIMS. I also deem it fit to have before me the entire medical record of the accused from the AIIMS,” the court said.

Giving directions to the AIIMS director, the court added: “Director of AIIMS shall send the report of the medical condition of the accused from the time of his admission in the AIIMS and his present medical position.”

The court which was to pronounce its order on Singh’s interim bail plea, posted the matter for further arguments after he was shifted to AIIMS Monday evening due to a kidney-related ailment.

Besides, the court also directed Tihar Jail authorities to submit his urine culture and sensitivity report that were supposed to be submitted Tuesday.

“It is important and relevant that the medical investigations carried out so far of the accused in the jail hospital are placed on the court record,” the judge said.

Meanwhile, the court also deferred the hearing on the interim bail pleas of two former Bharatiya Janata Party MPs — Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Singh Bhagora — till Sep 29.

Outside the court, senior advocate Hari Haran, counsel for Singh blamed the police for the political leader’s health situation.

“Police tried to play down the situation without realising that Singh’s situation was deteriorating day by day. In their reports and while arguing before the court too they pressed that his situation is stable… and now he is really unwell,” counsel said.

He added that Singh’s creatinine level (an indicator for kidney functioning) has drastically gone up.

“The level has gone up from 1.6 to two… the unhygienic condition in the jail where Singh was kept is what necessitated admitting him to AIIMS,” he added.

When contacted, AIIMS officials said that tests have been conducted on the Rajya Sabha member and the reports are awaited.

Singh, who is a patient of diabetes, underwent renal transplant in September 2009 and intestinal surgery 10 years ago. Besides, he is also a patient of hypertension, tuberculosis infection, chronic kidney disease and urinary tract infection.

He is presently under observation in AIIMS.

Amar Singh was arrested Sep 6 for his alleged involvement in an attempt to bribe MPs ahead of the July 2008 parliament trust vote.

On July 22, 2008, three BJP MPs waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha ahead of a trust vote, alleging they were given the money to vote in favour of the Manmohan Singh government.