NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar was arrested in connection with a murder of a junior wrestler, Delhi Police said on Sunday.
The Special Cell’s Southern Range team led by inspector Karambir arrested Kumar (38) and his associate Ajay, alias Sunil, (48) on Sunday morning, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) PS Kushwah said.
The athlete has been on the run since the death of Sagar Dhankar on May 5, prompting Delhi Police to issue a lookout notice for him and announce a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information on his whereabouts.
Another reward of Rs 50,000 was announced for Ajay Kumar’s arrest.
Sushil Kumar and some other wrestlers face charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, and abduction for having allegedly beaten up Dhankar, a trainee at Chhatrasal Stadium, and two of his friends over a property dispute. All three were admitted to a hospital, but Dhankar died of his injuries.
Sushil Kumar, who is employed at the Indian Railways, is the chief administrator of the Chhatrasal Stadium in his capacity as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on deputation with the Delhi Government.
He had approached the local court at Delhi’s Rohini earlier this week for anticipatory bail, but his application was rejected.
His arrest came hours after a Delhi court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.
While Delhi Police conducted raids in several places around Delhi in search of him, the athlete had reportedly travelled to Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to evade arrest.