Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar to face murder trial in Sagar Dhankar death case

New Delhi: A Delhi Court ordered to frame charges of murder, attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly and other sections including criminal conspiracy against Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar and 17 others in Junior wrestler Sagar Dhankar murder case. The court fixed the matter for framing of charge on October 15.

Additional Sessions Judge Shivaji Anand after hearing arguments on behalf of Prosecution and Defence counsels said, "From statements and the other circumstances circumscribing the incidents which took place on the intervening night of 04/05.05.2021, the charges are to be framed against the accused persons (namely Sushil Kumar (A1), Prince (A2), Ajay Kumar (A3), Mohit @ Bholi (A4), Manjeet @ Chunnilal (A5), Gulab (A6), Bhupender @ Bhuppi (A7), Rohit Malik @ Sonu (A8), Bijender @ Binder (A9), Anirudh Dahiya (A10), Subhash (A11), Gaurav Loura (A12), Surjeet Grewal @ Kala (A13), Anil Dhiman (A14), Praveen Dabas S/o Late Sahib Singh (A15), Praveen @ Choti (A16), Rahul @ Dhanda (A17) and Parveen Dabas S/o Suresh @ Gunia (A18) u/s 302 IPC read with Section 34 IPC for causing murder of Sagar Dhankhad. Similarly, charges u/s 307 IPC read with section 34 IPC are also to be made against the aforesaid accused persons for causing injuries upon Jai Bhagwan @ Sonu. Charges under Section 323 IPC read with Section 34 IPC be also framed for causing injuries to the other victims. The circumstances under which these offences were committed also make a strong case to frame charges u/s 109, 120-B, 142, 148 & 149 IPC.

The court directed to concerned Jail Superintendent to produce all the accused persons physically on October 15, 2022, for framing of charges in the court.

The court reserved the order on October 3, 2022 after hearing arguments on behalf of the Prosecution and Defence Counsel in murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankar.

Prosecution had submitted before the court that the manner in which Sagar and three others were abducted and brought to Chhatrasal Stadium and after that beaten up mercilessly showing that they wanted to establish their supremacy.

Prosecution contended that there is sufficient evidence to show the intention of the accused persons to kill Sagar Dhankar and there is sufficient evidence to frame charges of murder and abduction against wrestler Sushil Kumar and other accused Persons.

Counsel for Sushil Kumar vehemently opposed the submission of Prosecution by submitting that this is not a case of section 302 (murder) but of 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) IPC. He said," The post-mortem report of the deceased, the injuries inflicted were not sufficient to cause that. "

Wrestler Sagar and Sonu were allegedly beaten up in Chhatrasal stadium on the night of 4 May 2021. Sagar had succumbed to injuries during treatment in the hospital. (UNI)