Court frames murder charges against Olympian Sushil Kumar

A Delhi Court on Wednesday framed charges under sections of murder, attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly and other sections including criminal conspiracy against Olympian Sushil Kumar and 17 other accused in junior wrestler Sagar Dhankar murder case. 

The court has also framed charges against two absconded accused persons. Additional Sessions Judge Shivaji Anand of Rohini Court directed to frame charges against the accused persons under sections 302, 307, 323, 109, 148, 149 read with 120B.
The court directed to produce all the accused persons physically on 15 October 2022, for admission or denial of charges by the accused persons. 

The court has divided the whole incident into parts and directed to frame charges accordingly. 

The charges are framed against accused persons under section causing hurt and robbery in relation to the incidents that happened in Chhatrasal stadium. 

Second, in relation to the incidents of Shalimar Bagh, the charges have to be framed under sections of kidnapping, causing grievous hurt, criminal conspiracy including rioting and unlawful assembly against 10 accused excluding Sushil Kumar. 

Third, the court has also directed to frame charges in relation to the incident that happened at Model Town under sections of criminal conspiracy, rioting and Unlawful assembly against 15 accused persons excluding Sushil Kumar. 

The prosecution had submitted that there is sufficient evidence to show the intention of the accused persons to kill Sagar Dhankar. 

On the other hand, it had been submitted by the accused persons that it is not a case of murder but of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The counsels for accused persons argued before the court saying that the case of murder is not made out against the accused persons. 

Advocate R S Malik counsel for the accused Sushil Kumar had submitted that this is not a case of section 302 (murder) but of 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) IPC. As per the post-mortem report of the deceased, the injuries inflicted were not sufficient to cause that, advocate Malik argued. On the other hand, it had been submitted by the Delhi police that there is sufficient evidence to frame charges of murder and abduction against wrestler Sushil Kumar and other accused Persons. 

Additional public prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastav had submitted, “the manner in which Sagar and three others were abducted and brought to Chhatrasal Stadium. Thereafter they were beaten up mercilessly by the accused, showing that they wanted to establish their supremacy.” 

Sagar and Sonu were allegedly beaten up in Chhatrasal stadium on the night of 4 May 2021. Sagar had succumbed to injuries during treatment in the hospital and Sonu Mahaal was grievously injured in the incident.