Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike since June 28 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in support of the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was taken to Safdarjung Hospital by police on the morning of July 18. The police cited medical advice and directions from the Delhi High Court for the move.
Following another direction from the Delhi High Court on July 21, Wangchuk was scheduled to be shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital, a private healthcare facility in Gurugram.
In a video shared on his YouTube account on Friday night, the 59-year-old activist was seen arguing with a security personnel at Safdarjung Hospital on July 21, alleging that he was being prevented from leaving the hospital premises.
"Ask them to arrest me. I am a free citizen," Wangchuk was heard telling a police officer while walking through the hospital corridors. Wearing a blue patterned shirt and white pants, he alleged that he had been kept at the hospital for several hours on the 25th day of his hunger strike.
"You are keeping me for three hours on the 25th day of my hunger strike," Wangchuk said.
"You all are harassing me. If I die of stress, it will be your responsibility," he added while continuing towards the exit.
The police personnel responded, "We are not harassing you."
Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, was then heard accusing the police of behaving rudely. The video later showed Wangchuk arguing with another person, apparently a hospital staff member, after which he was seen lying on the floor.
A person standing near Wangchuk told him that they had not received the High Court's order regarding his transfer. Wangchuk responded angrily, saying, "It is digitally everywhere. Except you, the world knows."
Wangchuk claimed that the order was likely issued around 2 PM but was withheld until 7 PM. He alleged that the delay prevented him from leaving the hospital.
"They were not given to me so that I would not be able to leave. I do not know what their intention or plan was. After holding us up for three hours and packing our belongings, I had to physically struggle and fight, staging a sit-in protest and lying on the ground," Wangchuk said in a video recorded from his hospital bed at Medanta.
Safdarjung Hospital Responds to Allegations
Safdarjung Hospital authorities said the video was "purportedly recorded" by Sonam Wangchuk's aides inside a designated no-videography zone of the hospital and was released only on Friday.
The hospital stated that the video was reportedly recorded before the administration received the written order of the High Court. According to the hospital, Wangchuk insisted on leaving based on information available in the media at that time.
"It is pertinent to note that Mr Wangchuk was handed over to the team of doctors from Medanta Gurugram on the same day at 6:40 PM, immediately after the written order was received by the hospital," Safdarjung Hospital said.
The hospital maintained that the transfer was completed after receiving the official written order and that Wangchuk was handed over to the Medanta medical team on the same day.
The controversy has brought attention to the circumstances surrounding Wangchuk's hospital transfer, with allegations of delay from the activist and a response from Safdarjung Hospital stating that the process followed official procedures after receipt of the court order.
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