NEW DELHI — In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has rejected the regular bail application filed by two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar in connection with the May 2021 murder of junior wrestler Sagar Dhankar.
A single-judge bench presided over by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav dismissed the plea, characterizing the incident as a "premeditated and gruesome assault resulting in death." The court observed that substantial trial material and evidence remain to be thoroughly evaluated in court before relief can be considered.
Background of the Prosecution Case
The criminal prosecution stems from a violent altercation that transpired on the intervening night of May 4 and 5, 2021, inside the premises of the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi. According to investigation reports filed by the Delhi Police, 23-year-old junior wrestler Sagar Dhankar, along with his companions, was allegedly abducted from the Shalimar Bagh and Model Town localities and forcibly brought to the stadium’s parking area.
Once inside, Dhankar and his associates were allegedly subjected to a prolonged physical assault with blunt weapons, including hockey sticks and baseball bats. The post-mortem evaluation revealed that Dhankar suffered severe cerebral trauma from blunt force impacts, subsequently leading to his death during medical treatment.
Police named Sushil Kumar as the principal accused and alleged that the violence was triggered by an ongoing property dispute as well as an attempt by the senior athlete to re-establish dominance among younger wrestlers.
Arguments Presented Before the Bench
Sushil Kumar moved the High Court challenging a lower court ruling from February 6, 2026, which had rejected his prayer for regular bail.
Submissions by the Defense:
- Examination of Witnesses: Counsel appearing for Sushil Kumar argued that circumstances had materially changed since previous proceedings, highlighting that all key civilian and injured prosecution witnesses—42 out of 222 total witnesses—had been examined by the trial court.
- Risk of Tampering: The defense contended that with public witness testimonies concluded, there was no realistic possibility of the accused tampering with evidence or exerting influence on key individuals.
- Liberty Reserved: The defense cited previous observations of the apex court, which had allowed the petitioner to seek fresh remedies upon a material change in circumstances.
Objections by the State and Victim's Family:
- Pending Prosecution Evidence: Additional Public Prosecutors representing the State, alongside private counsel for Sagar Dhankar’s family, vehemently opposed the application. They submitted that the examination process is ongoing and that the threat of witness coercion or disruption to trial proceedings remains high given the applicant's stature.
- Gravity of Offence: The prosecution maintained that the heinous nature of the alleged crimes, coupled with charges under sections dealing with murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and the Arms Act, warrants continued custody.
Court Observations and Order
In arriving at its decision, the Delhi High Court underscored that the parameters governing regular bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) / Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were not met in this instance.
Justice Kaurav noted that concerns previously expressed regarding the petitioner’s conduct prior to arrest, as well as his potential capacity to impact trial proceedings given his influence, had not altered in any fundamental way.
"This Court is not persuaded that the petitioner has made out a case either for a genuine change in circumstances within the meaning of the liberty reserved by the Supreme Court, or, independently, for the grant of regular bail on the ordinary parameters governing criminal procedure."
Consequently, the court formally dismissed the bail application, directing the criminal trial at the trial court level to proceed as scheduled.
Procedural Trajectory
Sushil Kumar was initially arrested in May 2021 after eluding law enforcement for several weeks. Formal charges were framed against him and multiple co-accused in October 2022 by a Delhi sessions court for offences related to murder, kidnapping, rioting with dangerous weapons, and illegal firearms possession.
While the Delhi High Court had briefly granted Kumar bail in early 2025, that relief was subsequently set aside by the Supreme Court of India in August 2025 to ensure an unhindered trial process, leading to his surrender. With the latest High Court dismissal, Kumar remains in judicial custody while prosecution evidence continues to be recorded.
Discription: The Delhi High Court has denied regular bail to Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar in the 2021 Sagar Dhankar murder case. Presiding over the matter, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav characterized the incident as a premeditated and gruesome assault, ruling that substantial trial evidence still needs to be evaluated.
Although Sushil Kumar’s defense argued for bail on the grounds that all key civilian witnesses had already been examined, both the Delhi Police and the victim's family strongly opposed the plea. The court held that no material change in circumstances had occurred since the Supreme Court previously revoked his bail over concerns of witness intimidation, confirming that Kumar will remain in judicial custody as trial proceedings continue.