Delhi High Court denies bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar in murder case

On August 6, the Delhi High Court refused to grant bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar, who faces murder charges in the death of former junior national champion Sagar Dhankar. Justice Purushaindra Kumar emphasized the risk that Kumar could influence witnesses, referencing his prior conduct and the alleged premeditated nature of the attack. Evidence cited included a firearm, video recordings, and other material pending trial review.

The defense argued that Kumar had already spent over five years in custody and that the victim's father had not supported the prosecution, but the court dismissed these points as insufficient. Both Delhi Police and Ashok Dhankad, Dhankar's father, opposed the bail request, and the court upheld the Supreme Court's earlier decision to cancel Kumar's bail due to concerns about his influence over witnesses.