Supreme Court Cancels Bail of Olympian Sushil Kumar in Wrestler Murder Case

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday cancelled the bail of double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, ordering him to surrender within a week in connection with the murder of junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar.

Sushil, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver at the 2012 London Games, is the prime accused in the case. He was arrested in May 2021 and had been out on bail since March this year following an order by Justice Sanjeev Narula of the Delhi High Court.

The decision to revoke his bail came from a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Sanjay Karol, in response to an appeal filed by Sagar Dhankar’s father, Ashok Dhankad, challenging the High Court’s earlier ruling.

According to the prosecution, Sushil Kumar, along with several others, allegedly assaulted Dhankar over an ongoing property dispute. The incident also left two of Dhankar’s friends injured. A post-mortem examination revealed that Dhankar died from cerebral damage caused by the impact of a blunt object.

In October 2022, the trial court framed multiple charges against Sushil under the Indian Penal Code, including murder, criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and rioting with a deadly weapon. He also faces charges under the Arms Act.

The case has drawn significant public attention, given Sushil Kumar’s stature as one of India’s most decorated wrestlers. His sporting achievements include being a two-time Olympic medallist and a multiple-time Commonwealth Games champion. However, the allegations against him have cast a long shadow over his legacy in Indian sport.

With the Supreme Court’s latest directive, Sushil now faces the prospect of returning to custody as the murder trial continues in the lower court. The ruling also underscores the judiciary’s stance on granting bail in cases involving grave offences such as murder, especially when appeals are brought by the victim’s family.