Today, On 4th March, The Delhi High Court granted regular bail to wrestler Sushil Kumar, who was previously given a seven-day interim bail for knee surgery in July 2023. The court’s decision marks a significant development in his legal case. Kumar had been facing charges related to a high-profile criminal matter. His release on bail comes after prolonged legal proceedings.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court granted regular bail to wrestler Sushil Kumar, who had been incarcerated in Tihar Jail for his alleged involvement in the murder case of junior wrestler Sagar Dhankar in 2021.
Kumar was arrested on May 23, 2021, and had previously been granted seven days of interim bail in July 2023 for knee surgery.
A bench led by Justice Sanjeev Narula ordered Kumar’s release on bail, contingent upon the submission of bail bonds worth Rs. 50,000 and two sureties. The court considered Kumar’s duration of custody and the slow pace of the trial in its decision.
Kumar had challenged a July 2024 ruling by a lower court that denied him bail. In his petition to the high court, represented by advocate RS Malik, he stated that he had spent 3.5 years in jail and argued that the trial was unlikely to conclude soon, as the prosecution had only examined 31 out of 222 witnesses.
The petition emphasized that the key witness in the case failed to identify him, charges had already been framed, and material witnesses had been examined.
Kumar, a medalist from the Beijing and London Olympics, faces charges related to the murder of 23-year-old Dhankar at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium.
The Delhi Police, in their charge sheet, alleged that Kumar killed Dhankar to reassert his authority among younger athletes after feeling his stature was diminished by rumors.
Kumar’s lawyers have denied the police’s allegations.
Sushil Kumar is a renowned Indian wrestler and the country’s most decorated Olympic wrestler. In May 2021, Sushil Kumar was arrested in connection with the murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankar at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium. His career and reputation took a severe hit following this incident.
Despite his legal troubles, Sushil Kumar remains one of India’s most successful wrestlers, having played a crucial role in popularizing wrestling in the country.
Case Title: Sushil Kumar v. State
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