Arrest me: Viral hospital video of Wangchuk sparks buzz, Safdarjung clarifies

A viral video shows Sonam Wangchuk confronting a police officer at Safdarjung Hospital on a day the Delhi High Court ordered that the activist be shifted to a hospital of his choice. The hospital has now come out with a clarification.Activist Sonam Wangchuk at Safdarjung HospitalA video has gone viral showing the final moments of activist Sonam Wangchuk inside Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, where he was shifted from the Jantar Mantar protest site on July 18 amid his hunger strike. The video shows a visibly agitated Wangchuk confronting a police officer and accusing him of "harassment" as he tries to leave the hospital. The video was shot on July 21 - the day the Delhi High Court directed that Wangchuk be shifted to a hospital of his choice.However, the state-run Safdarjung Hospital, in a statement, clarified that the video was recorded before the authorities received the written order of the High Court. The video shows Wangchuk, dressed in a blue shirt and white trousers, walking through a hospital corridor with his wife, who is seen carrying his belongings.However, a police officer tries to stop him, ostensibly to prevent him from leaving. "Ask them to arrest me. I am a free citizen," an infuriated Wangchuk is heard telling the cop."You all are harassing me. If I die of stress, it will be your responsibility," the activist further says. To this, the police officer tells him he was not trying to harass him. However, Wangchuk, unperturbed, continues to walk towards the exit. "You are keeping me here for no reason for three hours on the 24th day of my hunger strike," Wangchuk is heard saying.His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, who has been leading Wangchuk's fight against paper leaks amid the activist's hospitalisation, is also heard accusing the police of behaving rudely. "You are being rude... Do you have orders to behave so arrogantly?" she says. Wangchuk is then seen walking out of the door.WHAT SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL SAID ON VIRAL VIDEO?As the video went viral, Safdarjung Hospital said the video was purportedly recorded by Wangchuk's aides on July 21 in the "no videography" zone."The video was recorded before the hospital administration received the written order of the High Court. At that time, Wangchuk insisted on leaving the hospital based on information available in the media," the hospital said. - EndsPublished By: Abhishek DePublished On: Jul 25, 2026 11:25 IST