New Delhi, February 20 The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of the Delhi Police regarding a bail plea filed by Olympian Sushil Kumar in the murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar.
Justice Anup J Bhambhani issued notices to the Delhi Police and the family of the deceased, asking them to submit a status report and a reply, respectively.
Noting that the Supreme Court had cancelled the bail granted to Kumar by the high court in August last year, the judge remarked, "I think you are being overly ambitious."
"Once the Supreme Court has made its decision, what do you expect from me?" the court asked.
The lawyer for the accused argued that the bail plea should be considered, as all public witnesses have already been examined in the trial.
However, the lawyer for the Delhi Police and the deceased's family argued that all public witnesses had not yet been examined.
"A status report/detailed reply should be filed before the next hearing date. Re-notify on May 4," the court said.
Kumar was arrested in May 2021, and a sessions court granted him a week's interim bail on July 19, 2023, for his knee surgery.
On August 13, 2025, the Supreme Court cancelled Kumar's bail, overturning a March 4 high court order, and noting that his "dominating influence" on witnesses or delaying the trial proceedings could not be ruled out.
On February 6 this year, a trial court refused to grant bail to Kumar, saying that the possibility that the accused might influence witnesses "cannot be ruled out."
The trial court, in October 2022, framed charges against Kumar under sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with murder, criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and rioting with a deadly weapon. Charges were also framed under the provisions of the Arms Act.
The trial court had noted that after being abducted and brought to the Chhatrasal Stadium, Dhankar was severely assaulted by several accused persons using baseball bats and hockey sticks.