Supreme Court Cancels Bail of Olympic Wrestler Sushil Kumar in Murder Case

Strategic Insights -

The Supreme Court Wednesday cancelled the bail granted to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar, facing trial in the 2021 murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankhar in Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and P K Mishra gave Kumar a week to surrender. The order came on an appeal filed by the father of Sagar Dhankhar challenging the Delhi High Court's March 4, 2025 order granting bail to Kumar. The Delhi High Court had noted that only 30 of the 186 prosecution witnesses have been examined in the three years since the trial began. Dhankhar, a 27-year-old wrestler competing in the 97-kg Greco-Roman category, was beaten to death in a clash involving two groups at the stadium on May 4, 2021. Sushil Kumar's name emerged when a video of the incident purportedly featuring him came to light, and he was eventually arrested after a lookout notice was issued.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court has cancelled the bail granted to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar in connection with the murder of Sagar Dhankhar in 2021.
  • Kumar is required to surrender within a week as per the Supreme Court's order.
  • The Delhi High Court had granted bail to Kumar on March 4, 2025, citing the slow progress of the trial, with only 30 of the 186 prosecution witnesses examined in three years.
  • Sushil Kumar is accused of conspiring with associates from Delhi and Haryana to attack Dhankhar, and faces murder charges under IPC sections 302, 323, 120 B, 142, 148, and 149.
  • Dhankhar, a 27-year-old wrestler, was killed in a clash at Chhatrasal Stadium, Delhi, on May 4, 2021.
  • Sushil Kumar was arrested after a lookout notice was issued for him, and a video purportedly showing him at the scene of the crime came to light.
  • The sessions court had framed murder charges against Kumar and 17 others in October 2022.
  • The court noted a strong case of murder and attempt to murder based on witness statements, location charts, medical evidence, and other evidence mentioned in the chargesheet.

Statistics:

  • Sushil Kumar was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on March 4, 2025.
  • Only 30 of the 186 prosecution witnesses have been examined in the three years since the trial began.
  • Dhankhar was killed in a clash at Chhatrasal Stadium, Delhi, on May 4, 2021.
  • Sushil Kumar is accused of conspiring with associates from Delhi and Haryana to attack Dhankhar.
  • The sessions court framed murder charges against Kumar and 17 others in October 2022.

Sources:

  • Express News Service
  • IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com