India, July 9 -- In a Delhi courtroom on Wednesday, Special Judge Prashant Sharma heard an unusual request: a US citizen accused in a high-profile terror conspiracy case wanted an "American diet" while lodged in Tihar Jail. His lawyers told the court that Matthew Aaron VanDyke had been on a hunger strike for roughly 50 days, surviving mostly on soy milk and liquids because he could not stomach the spicy, oily, and deep-fried meals served to inmates in the jail.

The court heard that Tihar prison officials plan to respond to the plea, but the National Investigation Agency (NIA) chose not to comment for now. The next hearing is set for July 21. VanDyke, 47, stands out among detainees. He was born in Baltimore in 1979 and has degrees in poli...