Sagar Dhankar Murder Case: Delhi Court Denies Bail To Wrestler Sushil Kumar
Pranav B Prem
A Delhi Court has denied bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar in connection with the murder of 27-year-old former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar in May 2021. The order was passed by the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts, which rejected the bail application after noting the seriousness of the allegations and the fact that the Supreme Court had earlier cancelled the accused’s bail. While dismissing the plea, the Court observed, “this Court is not inclined to allow the bail application filed by applicant/accused Sushil Kumar. Same is dismissed, accordingly. Nothing stated herein shall tantamount to any expression of opinion the merits of the case.”
Sushil Kumar was arrested in May 2021 in connection with the murder of Sagar Dhankar at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium. The case involves allegations under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including offences of murder, attempt to murder, abduction, rioting, criminal conspiracy, and offences under the Arms Act. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had granted him regular bail. However, the Supreme Court later set aside that order and directed him to surrender before the trial court, while granting liberty to seek bail again on change of circumstances.
Before the trial court, the defence argued that the accused had been in judicial custody since May 2021 and had been falsely implicated. It was contended that the basis on which the Supreme Court cancelled his bail no longer survived because several material public witnesses had already been examined and none had supported the prosecution case or attributed any specific role to him.
The defence further submitted that a total of 222 prosecution witnesses had been cited and that the remaining witnesses were largely formal, including police officials, nodal officers and doctors. It was also argued that the accused, being an international wrestler of repute, had earlier been granted interim bail on various occasions and had never misused the liberty. The prosecution opposed the plea, contending that the allegations were serious in nature and the bail application deserved dismissal.
The Court noted that charges had already been framed against the accused and the case was at the stage of recording prosecution evidence. It referred to the testimony of a key witness who had identified the accused and narrated the incident in his examination-in-chief, though he later turned hostile during cross-examination. The Court observed that such deposition could not be overlooked at this stage. The Court also took note of the Supreme Court’s earlier order cancelling bail, which had referred to the accused’s conduct prior to arrest, video recordings allegedly showing him attacking injured persons with deadly weapons, and the societal impact of his release. Further, it observed that several material witnesses were yet to be examined and the possibility of influencing them could not be ruled out.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, the stage of trial, the Supreme Court’s earlier cancellation of bail, and the possibility of influencing witnesses, the Court dismissed Sushil Kumar’s bail application, clarifying that the observations were not an expression on the merits of the case.
Cause Title: State Vs. Sushil Kumar Etc (13)
Case No: SC 436/2021
