Olympian Sushil Kumar denied bail in fellow wrestler Sagar's murder case
A Delhi court on Friday dismissed Olympian Sushil Kumar's bail plea in the murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar at the Chhatrasal Stadium.
A Delhi court on Friday refused to grant bail to Olympian Sushil Kumar in the murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankhar, observing that the possibility of the accused influencing witnesses "cannot be ruled out".
Additional Sessions Judge Sushil Kumar, while hearing the bail application, noted that several key witnesses in the case are yet to be examined. "It is important to mention that many other material witnesses are yet to be examined and the possibility of influencing such material witnesses by applicant/accused Sushil Kumar cannot be ruled out," the court said in its order.
The judge underlined the seriousness of the allegations against the wrestler and also took note of the fact that Kumar's bail plea had been rejected by the Supreme Court last year. "In view of the fact that the Supreme Court canceled the bail application of the applicant vide order dated August 13, 2025, this court is not inclined to allow the bail application filed by the applicant. The same is dismissed, accordingly," the court said.
The trial court further observed that the apex court, while denying bail earlier, had made several observations, including on the possible societal impact of Kumar's release.
During the hearing, Kumar's counsel argued that the Olympian has been in judicial custody for nearly four years and that the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude. The defence submitted that no evidence had emerged to show that Kumar abducted anyone and claimed that most prosecution witnesses examined so far had turned hostile. On these grounds, the lawyer sought bail for Kumar.
Opposing the plea, advocate Joshini Tuli, appearing for Dhankhar's father, contended that Kumar was the main conspirator in the case, which involves a total of 20 accused. She argued that Kumar, a celebrated wrestler with political connections, wields considerable influence and could misuse his stature to affect the trial.
"He was named as the mastermind in the case. Most of the witnesses have already turned hostile and the remaining are scheduled to be examined in the coming days. If he comes out of jail, he could influence them," Tuli told the court.
Kumar and the co-accused are alleged to have fatally assaulted Dhankhar and his friends at Chhatrasal Stadium in May 2021, following an alleged property dispute. As per the post-mortem report, Dhankhar suffered cerebral damage due to the impact of a blunt object. Two of his friends also sustained injuries in the incident.
Kumar was arrested in May 2021. In July 2023, a sessions court granted him a week's interim bail to undergo knee surgery. In October 2022, the trial court framed charges against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and rioting with a deadly weapon, along with provisions of the Arms Act.
The trial court had earlier noted that Dhankhar was allegedly abducted, brought to the stadium and then brutally assaulted by several accused people using baseball.
A Delhi court on Friday refused to grant bail to Olympian Sushil Kumar in the murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankhar, observing that the possibility of the accused influencing witnesses "cannot be ruled out".
Additional Sessions Judge Sushil Kumar, while hearing the bail application, noted that several key witnesses in the case are yet to be examined. "It is important to mention that many other material witnesses are yet to be examined and the possibility of influencing such material witnesses by applicant/accused Sushil Kumar cannot be ruled out," the court said in its order.
The judge underlined the seriousness of the allegations against the wrestler and also took note of the fact that Kumar's bail plea had been rejected by the Supreme Court last year. "In view of the fact that the Supreme Court canceled the bail application of the applicant vide order dated August 13, 2025, this court is not inclined to allow the bail application filed by the applicant. The same is dismissed, accordingly," the court said.
The trial court further observed that the apex court, while denying bail earlier, had made several observations, including on the possible societal impact of Kumar's release.
During the hearing, Kumar's counsel argued that the Olympian has been in judicial custody for nearly four years and that the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude. The defence submitted that no evidence had emerged to show that Kumar abducted anyone and claimed that most prosecution witnesses examined so far had turned hostile. On these grounds, the lawyer sought bail for Kumar.
Opposing the plea, advocate Joshini Tuli, appearing for Dhankhar's father, contended that Kumar was the main conspirator in the case, which involves a total of 20 accused. She argued that Kumar, a celebrated wrestler with political connections, wields considerable influence and could misuse his stature to affect the trial.
"He was named as the mastermind in the case. Most of the witnesses have already turned hostile and the remaining are scheduled to be examined in the coming days. If he comes out of jail, he could influence them," Tuli told the court.
Kumar and the co-accused are alleged to have fatally assaulted Dhankhar and his friends at Chhatrasal Stadium in May 2021, following an alleged property dispute. As per the post-mortem report, Dhankhar suffered cerebral damage due to the impact of a blunt object. Two of his friends also sustained injuries in the incident.
Kumar was arrested in May 2021. In July 2023, a sessions court granted him a week's interim bail to undergo knee surgery. In October 2022, the trial court framed charges against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and rioting with a deadly weapon, along with provisions of the Arms Act.
The trial court had earlier noted that Dhankhar was allegedly abducted, brought to the stadium and then brutally assaulted by several accused people using baseball.