Wangchuk denies in SC allegations of remarks about overthrowing govt like Arab Spring

Sonam Wangchuk denies Supreme Court allegations of inciting government overthrow, claiming his detention is based on misleading evidence.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is under detention in Jodhpur Central Jail, denied in the Supreme Court on Thursday (January 29, 2026) allegations that he made a statement to overthrow the government like the Arab Spring, emphasising that he has the democratic right to criticise and protest.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mr. Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo, submitted before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale that police have relied on a selective video to mislead the detaining authority.

"Look at the video. What he says (according to the police) is if the government of India will not give statehood, he will overthrow the government like the Arab Spring.

"He does not say so. I will give the transcription (of the video)," Mr. Sibal told the bench.

The Arab Spring is a series of anti-government protests, uprisings and armed rebellions that spread across the Middle East and North Africa around 2010 and 2018.

Mr. Sibal also refuted that Mr. Wangchuk had said in one interview that the people of Ladakh would not help the Indian Army during war if the government did not help.