Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, arrested in connection with the Chhatrasal Stadium brawl case that led to the death of a wrestler in Delhi, was interrogated for almost four hours, the Delhi Police said on Monday. (More Sports News)
Sushil Kumar is the main accused in the murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankad. He was arrested by Delhi Police on Monday
Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, arrested in connection with the Chhatrasal Stadium brawl case that led to the death of a wrestler in Delhi, was interrogated for almost four hours, the Delhi Police said on Monday. (More Sports News)
The legendary wrestler started crying as soon as he was lodged in the police lock-up. According to reports, he was awake all night and refused to eat anything.
Kumar along with his associate Ajay were arrested on Sunday from outer Delhi's Mundka area. Officials said they are investigating the case from different angles.
"We are questioning Kumar to ascertain the sequence of events that transpired and led the crime and also about his whereabouts after the incident.
"He was also questioned about his associates and friends who helped him to hide. He will be taken to the spot for recreating the crime scene," the officer said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Railway has said that it will suspend Sushil, who will turn 38 on Wednesday (May 26).
"The Railway Board has received a report on the case on Sunday from the Delhi government. He has FIRs registered against him and he will be suspended," Northern Railway CPRO Deepak Kumar said.
A senior commercial manager with the Northern Railway, Sushil was posted by the Delhi government as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at Chhatrasal Stadium for the development of sports at the school level.
The police had earlier said that the incident took place due to a dispute over a property at the Model Town area.
"It was not a case of trespassing. The accused took the victims inside the stadium where they assaulted them in the parking area. Sushil Kumar was present at the spot when the incident took place. However, the police are investigating his role in the assault," an official source had said.
The police said further interrogation of Kumar will clear whether the brawl took place over a property dispute.
"The motive behind the attack on wrestler Sagar Rana and his friends, Sonu and Amit Kumar, who were injured will only be clear during interrogation," the police said.
The police, however, refused to divulge details about a purported video of the incident which Kumar had allegedly asked his associate to record.
The police are also probing the link between Sushil Kumar and alleged gangster Kala Jathedi, whose nephew Sonu was also injured in the brawl, officials had said.
A 23-year-old wrestler died and two of his friends were injured after they were allegedly assaulted by Kumar and others inside the Chhatrasal Stadium.
The incident occurred on the intervening night of May 4 and May 5 over a dispute related to a property located in the Model Town area.
Prince Dalal (24), a resident of Haryana's Jhajjar had been apprehended in connection with the case and a double-barrel gun had been seized from his possession.
The police had said they have seized two double-barrel guns, seven live cartridges, two wooden sticks and five cars in connection with the case.
The police on Sunday said the case, which is currently being investigated by the northwest district police, will be officially transferred to the Crime Branch by Monday.
Sushil Kumar left the city as soon as he got to know about the wrestler's death, the police had said, adding that multiple teams were formed to trace him and his aide but he kept changing his location regularly.
Several teams, including the Crime Branch and four teams of the Special cell, conducted raids in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Punjab.
The Delhi Police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Sushil Kumar, who had since been on the run. Another reward of Rs 50,000 was announced for Ajay arrest.
Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra had granted the police six-day custody of Sushil Kumar, who was physically produced in court.
Earlier, a Delhi court had refused to grant anticipatory bail to the two-time Olympic medallist, saying he was prima facie the main conspirator and allegations against him were serious in nature.
The Delhi Police filed an FIR in the case under sections 302 (murder), 308 (culpable homicide), 365 (kidnapping), 325 (causing grievous hurt), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case was also registered under sections 188 (Disobedience to order by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC and various sections under the Arms Act.
(With PTI inputs)