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Wangchuk alleges harassment at hospital; Safdarjung denies

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Wangchuk alleges harassment at hospital; Safdarjung denies

2026-07-25 07:49 UTCBy AlphaScala Research DeskSource reporting: livemint.comEditorial standards

Wangchuk alleges harassment at hospital; Safdarjung denies

Wangchuk alleged he was prevented from leaving Safdarjung Hospital even after a high court order. The hospital said the video was recorded before it received the written order.

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Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday posted a video alleging he was treated "like a prisoner" at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi and prevented from leaving even after a high court order allowed his transfer. The hospital denied the claims, saying the video was recorded before its administration received the written court order.

Wangchuk, who ended a 26-day hunger strike on Thursday night, released the video on YouTube. It shows him confronting a security person at the hospital and alleging he was blocked from leaving. The Delhi High Court had permitted his transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

Safdarjung Hospital officials responded Saturday, saying the video was "purportedly recorded" by Wangchuk's aides on July 21 in a designated no-videography zone and released only on Friday. The hospital said Wangchuk insisted on leaving based on media reports before the written order arrived.

"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," the hospital said in a statement.

Wangchuk, who lost 11 kilograms during the fast, said in the video that people lacked knowledge of the circumstances he faced. He claimed he was not allowed to move freely, meet visitors, or keep a mobile phone or laptop after being shifted to Safdarjung on July 18. "It was like being in North Korea," he said.

The activist had been on hunger strike since June 28 in support of the Cockroach Janta Party's demands. He ended the strike in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, drawing criticism from some who alleged he made a deal with the Centre.

Wangchuk rejected those accusations in the video. "After 26 days of fasting for the sake of students, losing 11 kilograms of body weight in which I have also lost muscle mass and my organs and brain reached the verge of irreversible damage... do I have to seek a character certificate from anyone about how sacred my fast was?" he said.

The video is Wangchuk's first detailed public response since ending the strike. Safdarjung Hospital did not comment further on the specific allegations of restricted movement.

Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.

Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.

At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India's strategic and economic interests.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.

Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.