Chhatrasal Stadium Murder Case: Delhi Court Extends Judicial Custody Of Sushil Kumar Till July 9

A Delhi Court on Friday extended for 14 more days the judicial custody of Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar and his associate Ajay Kumar in connection with the Chhatrasal Stadium murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankhar. The duo will remain in judicial custody till July 9.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mayank Aggarwal pronounced the order after Sushil Kumar was produced before the Court on completion of his judicial custody which was earlier extended by 9 days till June 25.

The duo was sent to judicial custody on June 2 after the Court turned down the plea moved by Delhi Police seeking further 3 days police custody.

Sushil Kumar was arrested from Delhi Police on Sunday morning. His associate, Ajay Kumar, a physical education teacher at Chhatrasal Stadium, has also been arrested and the Police made their arrest from the Mundka area.

The Delhi Police had registered an FIR under sec. 302 (punishment for murder) and sec. 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 365, 325, 323, 341,506, 188, 269, 34 and 120B of IPC along with sec. 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

Reportedly, Sagar, who had been training at the iconic Chhatrasal Stadium, died while two of his friends got injured after they were allegedly assaulted by Sushil Kumar and some other wrestlers on May 4, at the Chhatrasal Stadium premises in Delhi.

"No one is above law and law treats everyone equally. Though constitution guarantees the right to life and liberty to all persons whether they are accused or not but that right is also subject to certain exceptions. Moreover, the importance of initial days of investigation to unearth the truth also has to be seen. The court is duty bound to strike a balance between the fairness of investigation and the rights of the accused." the Court had observed while sending Sushil Kumar and Ajay Kumar to judicial custody.

The Court had earlier turned down the plea moved by Sushil Kumar seeking special supplementary diet inside the jail.

"It is well settled law that all the persons, whether natural or juristic are equal in the eyes of law irrespective of their caste,religion, sex, class, etc. Right to equality is a basic feature of Indian Constitution. It implies the rule of law. It also implies absence of any special privilege in any person due to his rank,status, whether rich or poor, etc. The law should be equal and should be equally administered, that like should be treated alike." The Court said.

Furthermore, the Court also observed thus:

"Considering the facts and circumstances of the present case as well as keeping in view the averments made in the present application, it is apparent that all the basic needs and necessities of the accused/applicant are being taken care of as per the provisions of Delhi Prisons Rule, 2018. The alleged special foods and supplements appears to be only the desires and wishes of the accused/applicant and are not in any manner the essential need or necessity for the accused/applicant. Hence, the prayer of the accused/applicant in the present application is not maintainable. Accordingly, the present application is hereby dismissed."