Delhi High Court has stepped into the protracted legal saga surrounding wrestler Sushil Kumar’s involvement in the 2021 murder of Sagar Dhankhar, issuing notices to Delhi Police and demanding a detailed status report. The matter is listed for hearing on May 4, keeping the nation hooked on the fate of the former Olympic hero.
The case dates back to a fateful evening on May 4, 2021, when a simmering property dispute at Chhatrasal Stadium’s parking area turned deadly. Sushil Kumar and his group allegedly launched a vicious attack on Sagar Dhankhar, a promising junior wrestling champion from Haryana’s Rohtak, and his companions Sonu and Amit. Sagar succumbed to his injuries, triggering a massive manhunt.
For 18 tense days, Sushil dodged authorities across multiple states—Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana—before police cornered him in Mundka, Delhi. He was there to pick up cash and had resorted to borrowing a scooty from a fellow athlete to evade detection.
Legal twists have marked the journey: a trial court framed serious charges like murder and conspiracy against Sushil and 17 co-accused in October 2022. The Supreme Court intervened in August 2023, canceling his bail and ordering surrender. Undeterred, Sushil appealed the Rohini Court’s February 6 bail rejection to the High Court, leading to today’s notice.
Sagar’s father had approached the Supreme Court against an earlier High Court bail grant, which was upheld then overturned. With charges under IPC sections for homicide, rioting, and plotting now formalized, the trial looms large.
This case not only tests the judicial process but also casts a long shadow over Indian wrestling’s golden era, as fans and experts await whether Sushil can wrestle his way out of this career-defining crisis.