AHMEDABAD: Maya Kodnani (58), BJP ex-MLA from Gujarat convicted to 28 years of prison for involvement in 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre , was given electric shocks — considered the last line of treatment in major depressive disorder — on Thursday. Doctors said Kodnani has been showing severe suicidal tendencies and failed to respond to aggressive medicine treatment prompting them to consider giving electric shocks.

“Maya Kodnani was given electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) under anaesthesia. Her depression failed to improve despite aggressive treatment and she showed suicidal tendencies even under medical care. This prompted the team of doctors to consider giving her ECT,” said medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Dr MM Prabhakar.

This was the first time Kodnani was given ECT. Doctors said that she would be given electric shocks twice a week. ECT is now considered an extreme line of treatment given under anaesthesia.

She was on a three-month bail since November 13 on medical grounds. The high court recently rejected her plea for extending bail by 180 days but was given interim relief by Supreme Court which gave her a week’s bail till Monday.