Courtesy-India Today
India’s two-time Olympic medalist, Sushil Kumar, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the death of a 23-year-old fellow wrestler at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium. Since the murder, the decorated wrestler has been dodging capture and changing his location on a regular basis. He was apprehended earlier in the day while visiting someone in West Delhi with his friend.
Sushil’s abrupt fall from favor has resulted in the filing of a FIR for murder, kidnap, and criminal conspiracy. The Delhi Police had promised monetary incentives for information leading to the capture of the then-fugitive wrestler, and a Delhi court had issued non-bailable warrants against him.
Sagar Rana, the dead, had been training at the Chhatrasal Stadium, where Sushil was a well-known personality. Sagar died, and two of the young wrestler’s companions were wounded, after they were reportedly beaten on May 4 by Sushil and other wrestlers.
The victims in the case claimed that Sushil was there when the young wrestler was slain. Allegations surfaced that Sushil and his colleagues chose Sagar’s apartment to punish him for disparaging the Olympic medalist in front of other wrestlers.
According to police sources, multiple criminals used to take refuge at an apartment registered in the name of Sushil Kumar’s wife. Sandeep Kala, a wanted criminal by the Delhi Police, was also offered refuge by Sushil.
After the Olympian requested the criminals to leave the flat, a dispute erupted between Sushil Kumar and gangsters from Kala Jathedi’s group. Following that, Sushil gathered Kala Jathedi’s adversaries and battered Sagar in Chhatrasal, killing the young wrestler. Sonu, Jhathedi’s nephew, also lived in the apartment and was injured in the Chhatrasal stadium incident.
According to witnesses, mobster Kala Jhathedi threatened Sushil Kumar following the murder. While evading capture, Sushil attempted to reconcile with the Kala Jathedi. Whether or if the reconciliation took place is unknown.
Sushil rose to prominence after winning a bronze medal in the Asian Games. In 2008, he finished on the podium in the Olympics in Beijing. The renowned wrestler went on to earn silver at the 2012 London Olympics.