Undertrial Prisoner Entitled To Food Suited To His Medical Condition: Chennai Court On Anbil Mahesh's Plea For Home-Cooked Food In Prison

Special Judge LS Sathiyamurthy noted that the court had already ordered class “A” prison facilities for Mahesh after considering his medical records and despite the same, the prison authorities had not provided him basic amenities.

The court noted that Mahesh, being a prison inmate in judicial custody should be treated as a human with all dignities and should be provided with nutritious and medically appropriate diet, tailored to specific health condition.

“The petitioner being a prison inmate in the judicial custody is to be treated as a human with all dignities. In the guideline provided by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in L.Muruganantham Vs State of Tamil Nadu 2025 SCC Online SC 1444, it is directed that the prison authorities shall provide nutritious and medically appropriate diet, tailored to the specific health and dietary needs of every prisoner with a disability (Para 41.10),” the court observed.

It may be noted that Mahesh has been arrested in connection with an alleged 100 crore scam involving registration of private schools in the State of Tamil Nadu. He was arrested on October 26, 2026 shortly after the High Court had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. Later, when a petition filed by Mahesh to quash the present FIR was taken up by the High Court, Mahesh's counsel had objected to the manner in which Mahesh was arrested from the advocate's office.

Mahesh, who was sent to judicial custody on October 26, had filed the present application before the Special Court seeking directions to the prison officials to provide him home-cooked food in prison.

The court was informed that Mahesh was suffering from recurrent acute-on-chronic pancreatitis, which causes him constant upper abdominal pain and necessitates a specialised dietary regimen, continuous medical care and appropriate treatment. It was submitted that he had been undergoing treatment since 2024 and had been advised to avoid normal food and instead have food which was low in protein and fat with nutritional supplements.

At the time of his remand, the court had ordered special dietary food to be provided to him. However, Mahesh submitted that despite the direction, he was provided with regular prison food which has aggravated his discomfort and was not suitable for his medical condition.

Opposing the plea, the State submitted that Mahesh did not have an absolute right to receive home-cooked food and the same was subject to applicable provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prison Rules, 2024, prison discipline, security requirements and the discretion of the competent authorities. It was argued that Mahesh could not claim a facility as unconditional entitlement merely on personal preference.

The State submitted that Mahesh could be provided with adequate food and drinking water in accordance with the applicable rules and arrangements. The state further submitted that even if Mahesh was to be permitted home-cooked food, he and the person supplying the food should give written undertaking accepting the responsibility of preparing the food and its quality. The state also submitted that the food shall be thoroughly inspected by competent prison authorities before it is handed over to Mahesh.

Noting that undertrial prisoner was entitled to food suitable to his body, the court directed the prison authorities to strictly adhere to the court's direction at the time of trial. The court directed the authorities to permit Mahesh to wear his own clothes and dresses.

The court also directed the Superintendent of Prison to take medical advice and make every endeavour to prepare and cook the food. If no such facilities were available in the prison, the court directed the authorities to obtain written undertaking from Mahesh and allow home-cooked food to be brought on Mahesh's own responsibility.