Delhi Court Reserves Order In Sushil Kumar's Plea For Special Supplementary Diet In Jail

A Delhi Court on Tuesday reserved orders in the fresh application moved on behalf Sushil Kumar, accused in connection with the Chhatrasal Stadium murder case, seeking special supplementary diet inside the jail.

Sushil Kumar is presently under Judicial Custody in a case concerning the death of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankhar. He was sent to judicial custody on June 2.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satvir Singh Lamba reserved the order for tomorrow after hearing Advocate Pradeep Rana appearing on behalf of Sushil Kumar and Public Prosecutor Shrawan Kumar appearing for the State.

During the course of hearing, Advocate Pradeep Rana submitted before the Court that Sushil Kumar cannot be denied the grant of supplements under the Prison Rules if he is in a position to bring the same.

Rana also referred to the relevant Prison Rules and the important judgments on the subject.

In view of the submissions made on behalf of the applicant accused, the Court asked Rana "What is the difference between Private Diet and Special Diet?"

The judge also asked Rana "Whether the Undertrial Prisoner has any allergies? Does he not like the 'daal'? Or if the food is not suiting him?"

The submissions made by Rana were vehemently opposed by Public Prosecutor Shrawan Kumar who argued before the Court that the applicant has not put forth any document along with the application for requirement of supplements.

PP also stated that at the time of moving the aforesaid application on May 29, a query was raised by the Court if any similar application is moved before the concerned Jail Authorities or not. 

The PP submitted that Sushil Kumar himself had moved the application on the same day before the concerned Jail Superintendent. He submitted:

"What is the need to provide special treatment to an accused of heinous organized crime? What is the basis of special food? Nothing. Under Article 14 of the Constitution, equality before law is the same."

He further submitted thus:

"As per the reply of the Jail Superintendent, many of the prisoners are who are competent to demand such foods are not being allowed the same. Allowing the application to him will create a discriminatory atmosphere among all Prisoners."

In view of the aforesaid submissions, PP submitted that keeping in mind the reply of jail superintendent, application for grant of supplements must be dismissed.

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.