India’s only twin Olympic medallist wrestler, Sushil Kumar, should have been practising for the upcoming games to get India another medal. But the man is now under arrest in relation to the case of wrestler Sagar Dhankar’ murder.
The two-time Olympic medallist is said to have allegedly thrashed Dhankar, a 23-year-old former junior national champion, to death during a brawl in the Chhatrasal Stadium parking area on 4 May.
Sushil Kumar was arrested along with a co-accused Ajay Kumar from northwest Delhi›s Mundka while he was planning to cross the Delhi border. He was held by the southern range of Delhi Police’s Special Cell. Sushil, along with Ajay Kumar, a physical education teacher, were produced before a Delhi court. The court allowed the Delhi Police to take Sushil Kumar for 6 days of police custody.
Delhi Police said that they have recovered cellphone footage of the incident and initial investigations have revealed that the violence was the fallout of a property dispute. Sagar Dhankar lived in a rented apartment owned by Sushil’s wife. According to the police, Dhankar had been asked to vacate the place by Sushil. In the mobile footage, Sushil and other men can be seen assaulting Dhankar and his friends inside the stadium complex.
According to Delhi Police’s statement on 4 May 4, they received information about a firing incident inside Chhatrasal Stadium late in the night. Delhi Police on reaching the stadium found and seized five vehicles parked inside. One of the cars had a double-barrel gun with seven 12 bore cartridges. Three injured persons had already been taken by a police patrol van to a nearby hospital, where Dhankar succumbed to his injuries.
Since then, Sushil Kumar had been absconding. Delhi Police launched a joint operation to trace him down in five states—Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Sources said that Delhi Police formed at least 15 teams and conducted raids in several parts of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttarakhand to nab the wrestler. As part of the investigation, Sushil Kumar’s last location was traced to Punjab›s Bathinda. A team of the Delhi Police reached there, tracing the mobile number being used by him, which was registered in the name of Sukhpreet Singh Brar, a resident of Bir Road in Bathinda, who was also interrogated by a team of 20 police personnel, headed by ACP Kumar.
Earlier, the Delhi court had refused to grant anticipatory bail to Sushil Kumar, saying he is prima facie the main conspirator and the allegations against him are serious in nature. The court had issued non-bailable warrants against Sushil Kumar and six others. This came days after a lookout notice was issued against the wrestler in the case.
Sources close to Sushil said that he did not run away due to the fear of the police. He was allegedly hiding as he feared a possible revenge by a gang. They said that not paying rent for two months by Sagar was the reason behind the brawl. As per sources close to Sushil, Sagar lived like a caretaker in Sushil’s house. Bringing a friend named Sonu started all the problems, they added.
Sonu allegedly belonged to the Kala Jatheri gang, which is accused of several crimes, including murders. It is believed that due to the murder of Sagar and the assault on Sonu, the Kala Jatheri gang was determined to take revenge from Sushil, who chose to hide to escape its wrath. In Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Punjab, he continuously changed his hideouts. In the meantime, he used 15 SIMs and tried to reconcile with the Kala Jatheri gang.
Delhi Police has filed an FIR in the case under sections 302 (murder), 308 (culpable homicide), 365 (kidnapping), 325 (causing grievous hurt), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (criminal intimidation). It has also been registered under 188 (disobedience to order by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and various sections under the Arms Act.