New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday charged Olympian Sushil Kumar with murder in the death of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar during a brawl on 4 May 2021.
Seventeen others along with Kumar have been slapped with murder, attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly and other sections including criminal conspiracy.
The court also framed charges against two absconding accused.
On 1 October, while concluding arguments in the case, the Delhi Police told the additional sessions court that there was enough evidence to frame charges of murder and abduction against wrestler Sushil Kumar and the other accused.
Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastav said, “The manner in which Sagar was abducted and brought to the Chhatrasal Stadium (in north Delhi) and then beaten mercilessly by the accused, shows they wanted to establish their supremacy.”
Sagar Dhankar, 23, and one Sonu Mahal were allegedly pummelled in the stadium in May 2021. Sagar died during treatment while Sonu was grievously injured.
The motive apparently was a property dispute, the police have said. Kumar has been held without bail ever since his arrest after the murder.
Sushil Kumar won a bronze in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and a silver in the 2012 London Olympics. He became the first Indian to win a world title in wrestling in 2010. He has won several golds in the Commonwealth Games and handed the Queen’s Baton to (then) Prince Charles in the Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
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