The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition filed by Geetanjali Angmo, the wife of Ladakhi social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is challenging his detention and seeking his release. The court recently questioned the accuracy of translated transcripts of speeches attributed to Wangchuk, raising concerns. Angmo has raised procedural issues regarding her husband’s detention, emphasizing that he was not adequately informed of the reasons for his arrest.
The court has directed the production of the original pen drive given to Wangchuk at the time of his arrest, highlighting discrepancies between the original speeches and their translated versions. Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale noted a “variance” in the texts and emphasized the importance of aligning on the actual content of the speeches. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Wangchuk, pointed out missing statements in the authorities’ records, questioning the basis of the detention order.
The court emphasized the need for accurate transcripts of the speeches and scheduled further proceedings to allow Sibal to complete his arguments. During the hearing, concerns were raised about the sharing of video clips containing alleged objectionable content with Wangchuk before his arrest. The matter is set to continue on Thursday for further deliberation.
