Activist Sonam Wangchuk has alleged that he was prevented from leaving the state-run Safdarjung Hospital for several hours despite a Delhi High Court order permitting his transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. The claims emerged after Wangchuk shared a video on social media showing a heated exchange with police personnel and hospital staff, while Safdarjung Hospital has maintained that the transfer was carried out immediately after it received the court's written order.

Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike since June 28 at Jantar Mantar in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18 after police cited medical advice and directions from the Delhi High Court. On July 21, the High Court allowed his transfer to Medanta Hospital for further treatment. However, Wangchuk alleged that he was not allowed to leave the hospital promptly despite the court's decision.

In the video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the 59-year-old activist is seen confronting security personnel while walking through the hospital corridors. He repeatedly asserted that he was a free citizen and challenged authorities to arrest him if they intended to stop him from leaving. Wangchuk claimed he had been held for nearly three hours on the 25th day of his hunger strike, accusing officials of causing unnecessary stress. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, also alleged that police personnel behaved rudely during the incident. The footage further shows Wangchuk questioning a hospital staff member, staging a sit-in protest, and lying on the floor after being informed that the hospital had not yet received the High Court's written order.

Also Read: Doctors Say Wangchuk's Vitals Stable, Blood Sugar Levels Low

According to Wangchuk, the court's order had reportedly been issued around 2 p.m., but he claimed it was withheld until nearly 7 p.m., delaying his transfer. Speaking later from his hospital bed at Medanta, he said he had to physically protest before being allowed to leave and questioned the reasons behind the delay. He alleged that despite widespread knowledge of the court's decision, the order was not acted upon promptly, resulting in avoidable hardship during his prolonged fast.

Responding to the allegations, Safdarjung Hospital stated that the video was purportedly recorded by Wangchuk's aides inside a designated no-videography zone and released several days later. The hospital clarified that, at the time the footage was recorded, it had not yet received the written order from the Delhi High Court. Officials said Wangchuk was insisting on leaving based on media reports rather than official communication. According to the hospital, he was handed over to the medical team from Medanta Hospital at 6:40 p.m. on the same day, immediately after the written order was received, maintaining that the transfer was completed in accordance with due procedure.

Also Read: Safdarjung Hospital Says Wangchuk Weak but Stable After Admission