Sonam Wangchuk, a well-known activist from Ladakh, was arrested after violent protests demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards. He was shifted to Jodhpur jail on Friday. The protests left four people dead and 90 injured. For security reasons, mobile internet services have been suspended in Leh district.
After completing the necessary formalities at Leh airport, he was brought to Jodhpur by a special flight. Upon arrival in Jodhpur, he was taken to the jail under tight security arrangements. There, he was placed in a high-security ward via a cavalcade of several security vehicles.
Sonam Wangchuk’s medical examination has been completed and he has been placed in the high-security ward. 24-hour security and CCTV surveillance are in place.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested by Leh police on Friday, September 26, amid the unrest in Ladakh that killed four. Wangchuk has been charged under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly inciting protesters demanding statehood for the Union Territory that erupted on Wednesday.
MHA Action against Sonam Wangchuk
On Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had revoked the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), citing alleged violations of the law. Earlier, the MHA pinned the blame for Wednesday’s violent protests in Leh over the implementation of the 6th schedule on Wangchuk.
Trouble for Sonam Wangchuk
Sonam Wangchuk’s troubles may deepen as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to launch an investigation into his NGO, SECMOL, under the FEMA Act. Reports allege that SECMOL failed to provide accurate details of foreign donations and funds, and has not complied with the provisions of the FCRA Act. The institution is also accused of failing to return funds received from abroad. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has cancelled Wangchuk’s FCRA registration as part of the strict action taken against him.
What Ladakhi Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s institutions did
- Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh – Donations received by HIAL increased from ₹6 crore in 2023-24 to over ₹15 crore in 2024-25. The organisation has seven bank accounts, four of which were not declared. HIAL received foreign funds worth over ₹1.5 crore without FCRA registration. ₹6.5 crore was transferred from HIAL to Sheshyon Innovation Private Limited.
- Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) – This organization has 9 bank accounts, 6 of which were not declared.
- Sonam Wangchuk (Individual) – Sonam Wangchuk has nine personal bank accounts, eight of which were not declared. From 2018 to 2024, foreign funds worth ₹1.68 crore were received in various accounts. Between 2021 and March 2024, Wangchuk sent ₹2.3 crore abroad from his personal account. Many of these transfers went to unknown entities. These dealings have raised suspicions of money laundering.
- Sheshyon Innovations Private Limited – In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the company’s turnover was ₹9.85 crore, but the net profit was only 1.14%, while in 2023-24, the net profit was 6.13%. The company has three accounts, two of which were not declared. According to government sources, a large amount of money was transferred from HIAL to this private company.
- Sonam Wangchuk has often criticized the corporate world. But government sources say his organization received CSR funds from several big companies and PSUs. Large amounts were also transferred from NGO accounts to private companies.
