Sushil Kumar sent to 4-day police custody

No one is above law, it treats everyone equally. Allegations against both the accused are very grave. Mayank Goel, Metropolitan Magistrate said.

A Delhi court on Saturday sent wrestler and Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar to police custody for four days in connection with the murder of a 23-year-old wrestler, saying that the allegations against him are “grave” and “serious”.

Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar and his associate Ajay Kumar (back) . (Photo by Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times)

Metropolitan Magistrate Mayank Goel, who also allowed the custodial interrogation of co-accused Ajay Kumar Sehrawat, said that “no one is above law and it treats everyone equally”. “… the allegations against both the accused persons are very grave and serious in nature.

Moreover, the involvement of a large number of persons in the commission of crime as well as in hiding out of the accused persons, some of which belong to some notorious gangs stationed in Delhi and outside Delhi are yet to be arrested (sic),” said the judge, noting that the initial days of the investigation are crucial.

He agreed with the police submission that recoveries of mobile phones and clothes have to be made. “As such, in the interest of justice, deem it appropriate to allow the application of IO to the extent of four days only,” the court said in a seven-page order.

Police had sought seven days custody for Kumar and co-accused Sehrawat, who were arrested from Mundka area on May 23. Kumar has been booked for murder, abduction and criminal conspiracy in the murder of wrestler Sagar Rana, a former national junior wrestling champion.

Advocate Pradeep Rana, the counsel for Sushil Kumar, accused the police of a media trial and trying to curtail the freedom of the accused.