Murder case: Sushil Kumar says probe biased, made to injure his reputation

Sushil Kumar's application stated that the entire investigation was being conducted with "a pre-determined and biased mindset". It also said he was "innocent of all wrongdoings".

Two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar (File Photo)

Wrestler Sushil Kumar Tuesday filed an anticipatory bail application at Rohini court in which he stated the investigation against him was biased, and the allegations made to injure his reputation.

Failing to apprehend the two-time Olympic medalist and nine others in connection with the murder of a 23-year-old former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Rana, the Delhi Police announced a Rs 1 lakh reward for information leading to Kumar’s arrest and Rs 50,000 on his associate, Ajay Kumar, who is a physical education teacher.

On Saturday, a Delhi Court had issued non-bailable warrants against Kumar and nine others in connection with the murder. The police had earlier issued a Look-Out-Circular (LoC) against him.

Sushil Kumar has been on the run since May 4 when a FIR was registered against him under Sections 302 (Murder), 365 (Abduction), and 120-B (Criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Model Town police station.

On May 4, Sagar Rana, who had competed in the 97-kg Greco-Roman category, was beaten to death in a clash involving two groups. Rana was a former junior national champion and is part of the senior national camp.

Also read | ‘They could have thrown Sagar out of Chhatrasal… taking his life unacceptable’

Kumar’s anticipatory bail application has been listed for hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Jagdish Kumar. Senior advocate, Sidharth Luthra is expected to argue his case.

Kumar’s application stated that the entire investigation was being conducted with “a pre-determined and biased mindset”. It also said he was “innocent of all wrongdoings”. The court was told the alleged victims in the case “have criminal antecedents”, and when Kumar asked them to vacate a property which belonged to his wife, they “tried to falsely implicate” him.

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The court was told the firearms recovered from a Scorpio car did not belong to Kumar, and even the cars which were allegedly found at the place of the incident did not belong to him or his family members.

Kumar’s application also stated that he and his family were under great stress, financial and mental, due to the false implication of the applicant.

“That unfounded, baseless, scurrilous and preposterous allegations have been made against the applicant maliciously with the only motive to humiliate and injure the reputation of the applicant,” the application stated, adding he “should not be compelled to face harassment, ignominy and disgrace at the instance of baseless and unfounded allegations.”

The court was told there was a delay of 5-6 hours in registering the FIR, and this delay falsely implicated Kumar.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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