Delhi High Court Upholds Denial of Bail for Sushil Kumar in Murder Trial
In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has refused to grant bail to renowned wrestler and two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, amid charges related to the murder of fellow wrestler Sagar Dhankar. The decision was delivered by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, who emphasized the serious nature of the allegations, describing them as “a premeditated and gruesome assault resulting in death.” Justice Kaurav highlighted that crucial evidence has yet to be scrutinized during the trial.
The Court referenced prior observations by the Supreme Court, which expressed concern over Kumar’s behavior before his arrest, and noted the potential influence he could exert on the trial’s outcome due to his high profile. Justice Kaurav stated, “In these circumstances, this Court is not persuaded that the petitioner has made out a case either for a genuine change in circumstances within the meaning of the liberty reserved by the Supreme Court, or, independently, for the grant of regular bail on the ordinary parameters governing Section 439 CrPC/ 483 BNSS. The application is, accordingly, dismissed.”
Background of the Case
Sushil Kumar’s bail request had earlier been denied by a trial court on February 6, 2026. The charges stem from an incident in May 2021 at Chhatrasal Stadium, where a confrontation allegedly over a property dispute resulted in deadly injuries to Dhankar. Kumar, apprehended shortly after the incident, faces charges of murder and criminal conspiracy, being the primary accused in the case.
Initially, Kumar was granted bail by the Delhi High Court; however, this decision was overturned by the Supreme Court, which highlighted concerns regarding witness intimidation and ensuring a fair judicial process.
Arguments and Legal Representation
In a renewed plea for bail, Kumar argued that with all public witnesses having testified, the circumstances warranted reconsideration of his bail application. This stance was contested by both the police and legal representatives of Dhankar’s family.
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Representing Sushil Kumar were advocates RS Malik, Sahil Malik, Mamta, Aditya Solanki, Vanshak Jain, Keshav Bharadwaj, Rohit Kumar Dalal, and Abhishek Kumar. Additional Public Prosecutor Raghuinder Verma presented the State’s case, while advocates Joginder Tuli, Joshini Tuli, Taniya Qureshi, and Komal Jha advocated on behalf of Sagar Dhankar’s family.
