The Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar in connection with the 2021 Chhatrasal Stadium brawl case, which resulted in the death of junior wrestler Sagar Dhankar. Sushil, who was arrested in May 2021, had previously been granted a brief period of interim bail in July 2023 for knee surgery.
Sushil has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that he was falsely implicated in the case. His legal team emphasized that there had been a long delay in the proceedings, with Sushil having spent more than 3.5 years in jail. Additionally, they pointed out that no conclusive evidence had been presented that directly linked him to the murder.During the hearing, Sushil’s counsel, Advocate RS Malik, highlighted that all 31 witnesses had been examined in the case, and no evidence had been brought forward against the wrestler. The prolonged period of incarceration and the absence of any significant evidence against him were key factors in the court’s decision to grant bail.
Kumar, who won medals at the Beijing and London Olympics, has been charged with the murder of 23-year-old Dhankad inside Delhi’s Chhatrasal stadium. Kumar was arrested on May 23, 2021.Delhi Police in their charge sheet said Kumar killed Dhankar last year because his ego was bruised by rumours of his diminishing clout, and he wanted to re-establish his authority among younger athletes. Kumar’s lawyers have denied allegations of the Delhi Police.