On Sunday morning, after being nabbed by the Delhi police in Mundka, Sushil Kumar was sent to a six-day custody.
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What started as a tiff over property quickly escalated to murder. A whole “new side” of wrestler Sushil Kumar came out. This is not a media trial, and Kumar is innocent unless proven guilty. Known for his polite nature, this side of Kumar came out as a shock to many – that a man like him could be accused of murder. Well, evidences in the first go would suggest the same —a video from the accuse’s phone, his running away from the law. What happened on May 4 was no less than a scene out of a nightmare. A brawl between two groups, and one person ends up losing his life. After being on a run for over 3 weeks, Kumar and Ajay Sherawat (one of the other main accused) were finally caught.
Sunday morning, after being nabbed by the Delhi police in Mundka, Sushil was sent to a six day custody. “The trial will go on but he won’t get bail,” said a police source. Sushil has applied for anticipatory bail before his arrest. It was rejected by the Rohini Court. His face wrapped with a towel, Sushil was being escorted by policemen. The irony though. The two times Olympics medalist is not new to being escorted by police, but never in this capacity – out of a police station, apparently in Saket.
“The said property was on Sushil’s wife’s name. And they were fighting about this flat only. Uss flat ke chakkar mein pehle bhi kahi badmaash involve hue hai. Intention maarne ki nahi thi. Darane, dhamkane and kabze ki baat thi,” the police source said.
The word intention itself plays a huge role here. Whether or not they wanted to kill Sagar Rana, a 23 years old Greco Roman wrestler, is secondary. Why did the wrestler resort to criminal activities is the primary question. This inclination towards showing off their power is what drives people towards getting involved with criminals. This unfortunate decision, according to the police, this decision was taken by Kumar. The police also told SportsLumo that he was into extorting and forcing people to surrender their properties.
“He was in touch with us before the murder and they even made a video,” the police source said. This piece of information about the video surfacing made headlines.
No one can say this is just a brawl that is being blown out of proportion just because he is Sushil Kumar, a brand in himself. One can’t forget that his arrest has broken the hearts of many who looked up to him and got inspired by the two-times Olympics medalist. His hard work, his work ethics, all might get washed because of one decision. “Iss case mein aur ladke bhi involved the, unka naam toh nahi aa raha hai saamne. Naam hai, par chargesheet mein. Iska naam media mein aa raha hai kyuki yeh Sushil Kumar hai,” said a person in knowledge of the developments on the condition of anonymity.
Police have been trying to say that it is the change in Kumar’s mindset that’s led to his downfall. “Sushil ki galti hai, woh pichle 3-4 saal se inn mamlo mein hai. kabze karna, plot khaali karwana aur badmaashi. Yeh Sushil hai iss liye zyaada baat badh gayi hai, warna 3-4 saal se yeh yahi kaam kar raha hai.”
The ‘services’ of wrestlers in the NCR are used by people who give money on interest. These wrestlers allegedly intimidate people who aren’t able to repay the money on time. If the person in debt is in no condition to return the money, wrestlers make him sign on his property papers in the name of the person who gave the informal loan.
Often wrestlers and pehalwans are involved in helping criminals and gangsters. “Uss flat mein almost 10 ladke rehte the harr time,” a neighbour said. These people were most likely yes men and Sushil’s right hand in his illegal affairs.
Sonu Mahal, who fought alongside Sagar Rana is the nephew of Delhi and Haryana’s criminal Kaala Jathedi. Sonu also has many cases registered against him. Sushil Kumar had cordial relations with Jathedi, however, things changed after the brawl at Chhatrasal Stadium. Police sources also say that Kumar was using as many as 12 numbers and was in touch with Neeraj Bawana, the leader of the rival gang. He was caught 2 years ago but still reportedly runs the gang from behind the bars. Sushil had the support of members of Neeraj Bawana gang now, it seems.
“Kala Jathedi farar hai. Maybe out of India hai. Maybe kya… Hai he,” the police source said. Jathedi also has an award of Rs 7 lakh on his head.
Sushil Kumar dominated the first five years of his wrestling career. Having become the first Indian to win two individual medals at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012, Sushil only brought fame to the country. He also gave India its first world champion medal in wrestling when he won the 66kg title in Moscow in 2010.
However, since his arrest, Sushil has been suspended from the Railways and Wrestling Federation of India might not renew his contract.
The fall of a man who stood with the tricolour, as a fan this is nothing but hurtful. As a sports enthusiast, nothing hurts more than seeing the idol of many just get engulfed by his pride and need to assert power.
