Sonam Wangchuk Arrest: Did Amit Shah’s Office Order Leh ADC To Call Ladakh Activist A ‘Pak Agent’?

A viral video allegedly shows the additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Leh, Ghulam Muhammad, admitting that the Union home minister Amit Shah’s office instructed them to accuse jailed activist Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent face of the recent agitation for Ladakh’s statehood, of being a “Pakistani agent.”

In the video, the ADC is purportedly heard saying:

“As you all know, the unfortunate incident that took place yesterday in Leh… There were 20 people in major trauma. I request the people of Ladakh, we were ordered by the Home Ministry to arrest Sonam Wangchuk. We were ordered by Amit Shah’s office to accuse Sonam Wangchuk of being a Pakistani agent…”

This alleged “confession” spread widely on social media, fueling controversy over Wangchuk’s arrest last week under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

Also Read: Did Sonam Wangchuk Say Ladakh Residents Would Allow Chinese Incursion?

Evidence

No credible reports

Searches for “ADC Leh,” “Sonam Wangchuk,” and “Home Ministry” returned no official statements or media reports supporting the viral clip’s claims.

Original Footage Identified

A reverse image search traced the viral clip to an official video released by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Leh, on September 25, 2025. The background, clothing, and setting match exactly.

In the official video, Ghulam Muhammad briefed the public about injuries during the September 24 Leh protest. He further appealed to local administrations to maintain peace.

Signs of Manipulation

The viral clip shows several distortions:

• The ADC’s ring changes shape unnaturally.
• His lip area appears smudged
• Fingers appear warped in multiple frames.
• Background text, shirt patterns, and even wall sockets appear distorted.

• Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector flagged the audio as “likely deepfake.”
• Seven out of 12 detection models of Deepfake-O-Meter showed a high probability of AI manipulation, with some classifiers marking it 99–100% fake.

Official Clarification

The Government’s PIB Fact Check dismissed the video as fake, confirming ADC Leh made no such statement.

Similar Doctored Video

Last week, another doctored video falsely showing the Ladakh DGP SD Singh Jamwal saying Sonam Wangchuk was arrested without any evidence at the direction of the defence minister had gone viral online. 

Also Read: Here’s The Truth Behind Video Claiming Sonam Wangchuk Called For Nepal, Bangladesh-Like Violent Protests In Ladakh

Verdict

The viral video does not show Leh ADC Ghulam Muhammad linking Amit Shah to Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest. It is a manipulated video. The original footage confirms he only discussed casualties/injuries from the Leh protest, without any mention of Amit Shah. 

Q1. Did Leh ADC say that the Home Ministry ordered them to accuse Sonam Wangchuk of being a Pakistani agent?
No. The viral video is manipulated. The ADC never made such a statement.

Q2. What did the ADC actually say?
He spoke only about the number of injured and deceased during the September 24 Leh protest and appealed for peace.

Q3. How do we know the viral clip is fake?
Visual distortions, AI-detection tool results, and PIB Fact Check all confirm it is manipulated.

Q4. Is this the first misinformation involving Ladakh officials?
No. Recently, another doctored clip falsely showed the Ladakh DGP making similar claims about Wangchuk.

Sources
Facebook Post By @DIPRLeh, Dated September 25, 2025
X Post By @PIBFactCheck, Dated October 2, 2025
Deepfake-O-Meter Website
Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector