US mercenary held in Tihar unhappy with spicy, oily food. He wants chicken, pasta
Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a US citizen detained in India on terror-related charges, has petitioned a Delhi court for permission to cook his own meals. He claims the prison's spicy and oily food has caused significant health deterioration over the last 50 days.
Why it matters
The case highlights the intersection of international legal custody, human rights, and the cultural challenges of prison dietary standards.
Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a US mercenary accused in a terror training case, has moved a Delhi court seeking permission to prepare his own meals inside Tihar Jail, arguing that the prison's spicy and oily food has left him unable to eat for over 50 days and caused a sharp decline in his health.VanDyke, who is in judicial custody after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in a conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities against India, has approached the court seeking permission to use basic cooking equipment and ingredients to prepare what his lawyers describe as an "American-style diet."His plea claims he has lost around 14 kg since May 6 after surviving largely on liquids, including soy milk, because he cannot tolerate the food served in prison.The application contains an unusually detailed food list.
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