Sonam Wangchuk releases Safdarjung video alleging police detention before hospital move

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has released video footage documenting a confrontation with police personnel inside Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, alleging that police effectively detained him and delayed carrying out a Delhi High Court order permitting his transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon.

The clip, published on Wangchuk's official YouTube channel and reported by The Indian Express, depicts Wangchuk arguing with police officers stationed outside his hospital ward. In the video, Wangchuk asks police personnel to formally arrest him or allow him to leave, stating: "Ask them to arrest me. You all are harassing me. If I die of stress, it will be your responsibility... The whole world has the High Court order, but somehow you have not received it yet."

According to the reporting by The Indian Express, Wangchuk was forcibly admitted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on July 18 following his 26-day hunger strike. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, termed the hospital stay a detention and petitioned the Delhi High Court for permission to transfer him to a private facility. While the High Court granted permission on July 21, Wangchuk alleged in the video that Safdarjung Hospital staff and police delayed his discharge for five hours, claiming they had not officially received the order until 7:00 PM.

Wangchuk stated in his video address that during his stay at Safdarjung Hospital, mobile phones and laptops were restricted, visitors from Ladakh were turned away, and up to 150 police personnel were deployed in and around his ward area. When immediate transfer was denied despite the verbal confirmation of the court ruling, Wangchuk reclined on the hospital floor in protest.

What we can verify

• Activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video on YouTube titled "Do I need A Character Certificate From Anyone!" documenting his hospital confrontation (The Indian Express, July 26, 2026; YouTube, video ID 33bDyTsda4U).
• Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on July 18 after embarking on a hunger strike (The Indian Express).
• His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, filed a legal petition in the Delhi High Court seeking his transfer to a hospital of their choice (The Indian Express).
• The Delhi High Court granted permission on July 21 to transfer Wangchuk to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon (The Indian Express).
• In the published video footage, Wangchuk directly challenges police personnel over their delay in executing the court's transfer order (The Indian Express; YouTube).

What remains unverified

• The exact number of police personnel deployed around Wangchuk's ward at Safdarjung Hospital—Wangchuk states 150 officers were present, but Delhi Police has not issued an official deployment headcount [unverified].
• The specific reason for the administrative delay between the High Court's 2:00 PM ruling and Wangchuk's 7:00 PM discharge—Delhi Police and Safdarjung Hospital administration have not published a formal explanation regarding order receipt timelines [unverified].
• Independent medical documentation verifying claims of stress-related physiological impact during the five-hour altercation [unverified].

Cover image: Sonam Wangchuk pictured during his hospital stay. Source: The Indian Express