In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside a High Court order granting bail to Sushil Kumar, a celebrated wrestler and Olympian, who was accused of abducting and brutally assaulting five persons with deadly weapons, resulting in one death, and illegal firearm possession. The Court held that the High Court failed to consider material factors: the severity of charges (murder, abduction, grievous hurt, firearms offences), the accused's prior evasion of custody and absconding, his significant societal influence over witnesses, witness complaints of intimidation, and a troubling pattern of 28 out of 35 prosecution witnesses turning hostile during periods when the accused was on temporary bail. While affirming personal liberty as a constitutional right, the Court emphasized that bail discretion must balance this against the gravity of allegations, likelihood of witness interference, and preservation of trial integrity. The Court ordered the accused to surrender and permitted fresh bail applications based on changed circumstances.
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