It started with a fight over property. It ended with beating Sagar Dhankhar, a former junior national champion. And a former world champion, two-time Olympic medalist, Sushil Kumar, was arrested after absconding for nearly three weeks.
On Sunday, Sushil, who put India on world wrestling’s map, hid his face behind a yellow-white towel as Delhi Police’s Special Cell personnel paraded him in entrance of cameras. His pal and fellow wrestler Ajay Sherawat, sporting a black t-shirt with ‘Mercy for animals’ inscribed on it, was subsequent to him.
The two had been criss-crossing state borders evading cops since May 5, the day after the incident. Both are talked about within the FIR and have been accused of murder, abduction and legal conspiracy.
Until the night of the incident, May 4, Sushil was said to be preparing hard at his famous alma mater for that final push to make the cut for the Tokyo Olympics. Though he was ignored for the qualifiers, he didn’t give up. “I still have a lot of wrestling left in me. It (career) won’t end like this,” he had said, dismissively. Now one wonders, is this how his illustrious career ends?
Sources in Delhi Police say Sagar was confined and assaulted in the Chhatrasal basement. Hidden from the outside world, it’s a sprawling but dimly-lit space that’s big enough to house around 50 cars. But it has never been used as a parking facility. Instead, wrestling mats were laid in this wide corridor with bright pink walls. It has a makeshift gym, a tiny office and a praying area. It’s an uninviting place guarded by burly men with prying eyes, who stand next to the giant metal doors, ensuring the entry of only a select few.
