**Mumbai Court Issues Notice to Jail Superintendent Over Dietary Rights of Accused**
A special court in Mumbai has issued a show cause notice to the Superintendent of Arthur Road Jail for allegedly neglecting to provide Jain food to an accused, despite a clear directive from the court. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) special court had instructed the prison authorities on May 14 to ensure that Riteshkumar Surendrakumar Shah, who has been in judicial custody since March 29, receives food in accordance with Jain dietary practices.
Shah, an undertrial, had previously informed the court that he follows Jainism and emphasized that it is his fundamental right to receive food that aligns with his religious beliefs. Although Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed the request, the court upheld Shah’s right to a diet that complies with his religious requirements.
Despite the court’s order, Shah’s lawyer, Viral Babar, reported that the accused had not been provided with Jain food and had been subsisting solely on chapatis for over a month. Babar stated, “Despite the clear directions passed on 14/05/2025, till date, the accused has not been provided Jain food in accordance with his religious dietary requirements. As a result, the accused has been surviving solely on chapatis for more than a month, which has caused significant deterioration in his health.”
In light of this information, the court has now sought an explanation from the Superintendent of Arthur Road Jail regarding the failure to comply with its directive.
Shah, a businessman from Ahmedabad, is one of six individuals arrested in connection with a money laundering case linked to Malegaon, Maharashtra. The Malegaon Chhawani Police Station in Nashik district had filed a First Information Report (FIR) last year concerning the deposit of over Rs 100 crore into twelve bank accounts that were newly opened at the Nashik Merchant Co-operative Bank, also known as NAMCO Bank. These accounts were allegedly opened using false identities and shell entities to facilitate extensive financial transactions amounting to hundreds of crores within a short span of two to three months. Following this FIR, the ED initiated its investigation, resulting in the arrest of six accused, including Shah.
**FAQ**
**Q: What dietary rights does Riteshkumar Surendrakumar Shah have while in custody?**
A: Riteshkumar Surendrakumar Shah has the right to receive food that adheres to Jain dietary practices, as affirmed by a court directive.