New Delhi: Delhi High Court Thursday dismissed Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar’s bail plea in the Sagar Dhankar murder case of 2021.Justice Purushaindra K Kaurav found no merit in the bail plea and dismissed the same. However, the detailed order is awaited.Kumar had approached HC and cited changed circumstances to seek bail. His counsel had highlighted that all material prosecution witnesses have been examined by the trial court.In Feb, the trial court had rejected his bail application, taking note of the opposition by the father of the deceased before the trial court.Last year, HC had granted Kumar bail, but his relief was short-lived as Supreme Court cancelled it in Aug 2025, noting that material witnesses were yet to be examined.In his latest bail plea, Kumar submitted that the circumstances have materially changed inasmuch as all the material public witnesses stand examined, and there remains no possibility of the accused influencing or tampering with the prosecution evidence.It was also submitted that Supreme Court had granted liberty to Kumar to file a fresh bail application before the court concerned in the event of a change in circumstances or if fresh grounds arose.According to the plea, there are 222 prosecution witnesses in the case, of whom 42 material public witnesses, including the injured, have already been examined.This case is at the stage of recording of prosecution evidence.Kumar’s legal team has contended that no useful purpose would be served by keeping him in judicial custody, that too in the company of hardened criminals, and the continued incarceration is further injurious to his health.The trial court, in Oct 2022, framed charges against Kumar under Indian Penal Code sections dealing with murder, criminal conspiracy, intimidation and rioting with a deadly weapon. Charges were also framed under the provisions of the Arms Act.According to the prosecution, on the intervening night of May 4 and 5, 2021, at 11:30 pm, Jai Bhagwan alias Sonu, Sagar Dhankar, Ravinder alias Binda, Bhagat alias Bhagtu and Amit Kumar alias Khagad were allegedly abducted from Shalimar Bagh and Model Town and taken to the parking area of Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, where Kumar and his associates allegedly assaulted them. Dhankar later succumbed to his injuries during medical treatment.
