Sagar Rana murder case: Delhi court extends Sushil Kumar and his associate Ajay’s custody by 4 days

A Delhi court on Saturday extended the police custody of 2-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and his associate Ajay by four days for custodial interrogation in Sagar Rana murder case. The police custody of Sushil was extended after he was produced before the court on expiry of his six days remand granted on May 23.

The court has also directed Delhi Police to conduct a medical examination of Sushil Kumar once every 24 hours. Sushil Kumar’s lawyer can meet him in police custody during the 4-day remand. The Delhi Police had sought 7 days custody for the wrestler and his associate but the Rohini Court only granted them 4 days of custodial interrogation.

“No one is above law and law treats everyone equally. Though the 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 the investigation and the rights of the accused,” the court order read.

“In the present situations the allegations against both the accused persons are very grave and serious in nature. Moreover, the involvement of large number of persons in the commission of crime as well as in hiding out of the accused persons, some of which belongs to some notorious gangs stationed in Delhi and outside Delhi are yet to be arrested. Moreover, certain recoveries i.e. mobile phone and clothes of accused persons are yet to be made.

“As such in the interest of justice, I deem it appropriate to allow the application of 10 to the extent of four days only. Accordingly, both the accused namely Sushil Kumar and Ajay Kumar Sehrawat are remanded to police custody for four days. Thus is directed to conduct the medical examination of both the accused during the police custody remand as per rules.”

Sushil and his associate Ajay Kumar had been on the run since being named in the murder case of fellow wrestler Sagar Rana earlier this month. Sushil Kumar is India’s most-decorated wrestler with 2 Olympic medals, 3 Commonwealth Games gold medals, 1 world championship gold, 1 bronze in the Asian Games and 4 Asian Championship medals.

Earlier on Friday, Delhi Police’s Crime Branch made its 9th arrest in the Sagar Rana murder case and the latest accused has claimed that he was one of those who beat up the wrestlers at the Chhatrasal Stadium’s parking area on the night of May 4.

The Crime Branch nabbed a person named Binder, real name Vijender, from Tikri village in the city. Vijender is also a wrestler by profession and confessed to beating up Sagar Rana and his friends on the instructions of prime accused Sushil Kumar.