The nation’s highest court has yanked away the bail lifeline of Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar, directing him to return to custody within a week in the Sagar Dhankhar murder case.
The decision came from a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra, acting on an appeal by Ashok Dhankad, father of the slain 27-year-old former junior national wrestling champion. Dhankad had challenged the Delhi High Court’s March order granting Kumar bail, arguing that the celebrated wrestler had used his liberty to intimidate witnesses.
Kumar, arrested in May 2021 for Dhankhar’s killing at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium, had been freed on bail after the High Court noted that only 30 of 186 prosecution witnesses had testified in the three years since the trial began. But the Supreme Court found that the High Court had overlooked key concerns — the brutality of the crime, the possibility of witness tampering, and Kumar’s conduct during the probe, including remaining in hiding after the FIR was filed.
The bench also flagged the influence Kumar wields as a public figure, noting that “it cannot be doubted he carries societal impact” and could exert “domineering influence” over witnesses. The court pointed to written complaints from witnesses fearing for their lives.
Calling the allegations “shocking and serious,” the court ordered Kumar’s surrender before the trial court within a week, while allowing him the option to seek bail again if circumstances change.
