Hearing concludes for the day, to continue on Monday (February 23)
Sonam Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, under the NSA, following which his wife approached the Supreme Court.Sonam Wangchuk Hearing News Updates: The Supreme Court on Thursday heard the plea filed by Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo challenging his detention. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale heard the matter today.
What happened in the hearing? Counsel appearing for Wangchuk submitted that when Wangchuk met the legal counsel on the previous day, he stated that he had only been shown the thumbnails of the videos relied upon against him and that the videos were not played. The Court said that it would view the videos contained in the pen drive that had been directed to be produced from Wangchuk’s possession. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, had submitted that Wangchuk’s video in which he stated that he does not endorse violence was not considered at all. Instead, he contended, wholly extraneous material was placed before the detaining authority.
What happened in the previous hearing? Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Angmo submitted on February 16 that the detaining authority relied upon incorrect transcripts of the videos of Wangchuk’s speeches. The court raised questions to the centre over the transcripts of videos and said that the translations should be precise in the era of artificial intelligence. The court had also directed production of pen drive containing Wangchuk’s speeches given to him after Sibal had claimed that four videos of his speeches cited by the detaining authority against Wangchuk were not supplied to him.
What is the case against Wangchuk? Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, under the NSA, which empowers governments to act pre-emptively against individuals seen as a threat to public order or national security. He was later shifted to Jodhpur. His detention came two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union territory. The government had accused him of inciting the violence.
Sibal: Annexure A has 8 videos and Annexure B has 9 videos. But the 8 videos in Annexure A do not include the four videos that are of 10th, 11th and 24th September
Bench: We will look into it
ASG Nataraj: Let me clarify. The conversation between the DIG and detenue that will throw light on everything. The DIG asked to the detenue are you satisfied with it and he answers yes. Thats in the video
Bench: Did you tell the DIG that you are not showing the videos
Sibal: Let me answer that. Thats not the job of detenue
Bench: Did you ask?
Sibal: I dont have to ask
Bench: That is secondary
Counsel for Wangchuk: According to the detenue the 40 min videography will show since no video was played, because you can hear the video if its played. He is saying that the videography is the proof that none of the thumbnails were actually clicked because if they were clicked there would be sound that would be recorded in the videography
Counsel for Wangchuk: Lordship. Mr Wangchuk met the legal counsel yesterday and explained what happened. He said that on 29 September the DIG came with the laptop and inserted the pend drive in the laptop. When we insert the pen drive in the laptop the folders in the pen drive can be seen as thumbnail thats all he got to see
Bench: Tuesday or Wednesday we will see those videos and we will have to make arrangements here itself. If required if we find any doubt which we may want to clarify, we will come back to you
Bench: Keep it on Monday, 2pm.
Sibal: I have made all my submissions
Sibal denies allegations of provoking people to come out like Gen Z in Nepal
Sibal: My Constitutional right was violated.
Sibal now reads his written submissions.
Sibal: So if you are referring to an FIR or an incident it must be linked to me and if you refer to it, it has nothing to do with me the detention order will be set aside.
Sibal: You cant just pick one minute or 30 seconds from here and there and say that's the basis for detention
Sibal: My shunning violence becomes a reason for me being detained.
Sibal: My video where i say i don't like violence not considered at all. Completely extraneous materials placed before the detaining authority.
Sibal reads part of the judgment which speaks on when courts can question the subjective satisfaction
Sibal reads the judgment.
Sibal cites a Supreme Court judgment relied by both the sides.
Sibal: The videos will be self-revealing.
Sibal: We were only shown thumbnail.
Sibal: In the 40 minute, there is no audio.
Sibal: As a matter of law, you cannot rely on part of a document, you have to rely on the document
Bench: So, there are four pen drives now?
Bench: we would like to see all three pen drives and all the three links of the videos.
SG Mehta: Can I respond tomorrow
Bench: We will see.
SG Mehta: I have something substantial to say.
Sibal: I am opposing that.
SG Mehta: He cannot oppose that
Bench: Whatever you say he can oppose
SG Mehta: Today Mr Sibal may take time till 3-3:15. Can I respond tomorrow
Bench assembles
SG Tushar Mehta: We have the pen drive in a sealed cover.
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo present in the court
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale will hear the matter shortly.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the petitioners is likely to continue his arguments today.


