Supreme Court Cancels Bail of Sushil Kumar in Sagar Dhankar- Chhatrasal Murder Case

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday revoked the bail granted to Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar in connection with the 2021 murder of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar. The apex court directed Kumar to surrender within a week.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra set aside the Delhi High Court's March 4 order that had granted Kumar bail. The decision came on an appeal filed by Ashok Dhankar, father of the deceased, challenging the High Court's ruling.

Kumar, along with several others, is accused of fatally assaulting 23-year-old Sagar Dhankar at Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium in May 2021. The incident allegedly stemmed from a property dispute. Two of Dhankar's friends also sustained injuries in the assault.

The postmortem report revealed that the victim died due to cerebral damage caused by the impact of a blunt object. According to the trial court's findings, Dhankar was abducted and brought to the stadium, where he was brutally beaten by multiple accused using baseball bats and hockey sticks.

Kumar was arrested in May 2021 and remained in custody until July 19, 2023, when he was granted a week's interim bail for knee surgery. In October 2022, the trial court framed charges against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and rioting with deadly weapons, in addition to charges under the Arms Act.

The High Court's decision to grant bail earlier this year had faced sharp criticism from Dhankar's family, who argued that Kumar's release could influence witnesses and hinder the trial process. The Supreme Court's latest order aligns with these concerns, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations and the gravity of the crime.

The case, which shocked the Indian sporting community, has been under intense public and media scrutiny. Sushil Kumar, a two-time Olympic medallist and one of India's most decorated wrestlers, has seen his career and public image severely tarnished by the ongoing legal battle.

With the cancellation of his bail, Kumar's legal troubles have deepened, and the focus will now shift to the trial proceedings, which will determine the final outcome of this high-profile case.