'Gruesome assault': High court denies bail to Olympic medallist in murder case

The Delhi High Court has denied bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar, who is accused of murdering former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar. On August 6, Justice Purushaindra Kumar rejected Kumar's bail plea, citing worries about his potential to sway witnesses, his behavior before his arrest, the gravity of the alleged crime, and his capacity to sway the trial's outcome.

The judge pointed out that while bail is typically the norm and jail is the exception, this case involved a premeditated and violent assault leading to death, supported by a firearm, video evidence, and other materials yet to be examined in the trial. Kumar's lawyer argued that circumstances had changed since his previous bail was revoked, noting that Sagar's father, Ashok Dhankad, who had led to the initial bail cancellation, had not backed the prosecution's case during the trial.

The defense also contended that Kumar had spent over five years in custody and that only formal and official witnesses remained to be heard. However, the court rejected this claim, stating that the defense's argument about Ashok Dhankad's support for the prosecution was disputed. The court also referred to the Supreme Court's previous decision that had canceled Kumar's bail, noting his social standing and influence, as well as instances where witnesses turned hostile upon his temporary release.

The court concluded that it was not convinced that Kumar had made out a case for a genuine change in circumstances or for regular bail. Kumar was detained in May 2021, and a session court granted him interim bail for a week in July 2023 for knee surgery. The Supreme Court revoked his bail on August 13, 2025, after considering his alleged influence over witnesses and the potential to delay trial proceedings.