Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 13: The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled the bail of Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, a key accused in the high-profile murder case of junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar. The court has directed Kumar to surrender within a week.
A Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra passed the order while allowing a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Dhankar’s father. The petition challenged the Delhi High Court’s earlier decision to grant bail to Kumar in March this year.
Sushil Kumar is accused of leading a brutal assault on 23-year-old Sagar Dhankar and his two associates, Sonu and Amit Kumar, at Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi on May 4, 2021. The altercation, reportedly stemming from a property dispute, resulted in Dhankar’s death and sent shockwaves through the sporting community.
Kumar, a two-time Olympic medalist and one of India’s most decorated wrestlers, evaded arrest for 18 days following the incident. During that period, he allegedly moved across multiple states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, before being apprehended in Delhi’s Mundka area. According to police reports, he was found attempting to collect cash and had borrowed a scooty from a fellow athlete.
His arrest led to his suspension from his job with the Indian Railways.
In October 2022, a Delhi trial court formally framed charges against Kumar and 17 others under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, rioting, and criminal conspiracy. The Delhi Police has identified Kumar as the chief conspirator in the case, a claim backed by evidence presented in the charge sheet.
Sushil Kumar, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver at the 2012 London Olympics, has seen his career and public image unravel amid the serious allegations and ongoing trial.
With the Supreme Court’s latest ruling, the legal spotlight intensifies once again on the fallen sports icon, who must now return to custody as the judicial process continues.