In a high-stakes showdown at India’s top court, Ladakh leader Sonam Wangchuk’s wife has petitioned for his release from custody, accusing the government of procedural violations. The Supreme Court will deliberate on Thursday, building on earlier directives that exposed flaws in evidence handling.
Wangchuk, arrested in September 2024 amid Ladakh unrest, is accused of fueling riots through speeches that allegedly sparked deadly clashes. Geetanjali Angmo’s plea argues he was never told the real reasons for his arrest, and his words were twisted to implicate him in the tragedy claiming four lives.
The bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and P.B. Varale zeroed in on translation errors this week. Noting stark differences between original speeches on a pen drive and submitted transcripts, they mandated the device’s court presentation. “Petitioner and state may differ on interpretation, but the text must match,” they ruled firmly.
Kapil Sibal, Wangchuk’s counsel, decried the case’s foundation: charts presented by officials omit key statements, rendering the detention baseless. The justices echoed concerns, insisting on unaltered records to cut through the fog of allegations.
Postponed for Sibal to complete arguments, Thursday’s session could unravel the custody’s legality. This saga illuminates broader issues of free speech versus national security in India’s autonomous regions, with Wangchuk’s fate hanging in balance. Legal experts predict a potential landmark ruling on evidence standards in sedition-like probes.