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In Photos: Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar arrested over death of fellow wrestler

After evading arrest for nearly three weeks, Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar was arrested on Sunday in connection with the murder of a fellow Indian wrestler. The Delhi Police's Crime Branch will be handed over the case related to the Chhatrasal Stadium brawl that led to the death of a 23-year-old wrestler.

Olympic wrestling medallist Sushil Kumar arrested
India's Olympic wrestling medallist Sushil Kumar sits inside a vehicle after he was arrested by police over alleged involvement in the murder of a fellow wrestler in New Delhi on May 23, 2021. (Photo by DINESH JOSHI/AFP via Getty Images) (DINESH JOSHI via Getty Images)
Olympic wrestling medallist Sushil Kumar arrested
Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar and his associate Ajay Kumar (back) in the custody of Delhi Police Special cell on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Sushil Kumar produced in Rohini Court
Accused wrestler Sushil Kumar and Ajay leave at Delhi Police special cell Office to be produced in Rohini Court, in connection with the killing of the wrestler on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Accused wrestler Sushil Kumar
Accused wrestler Sushil Kumar and Ajay leave at Delhi Police special cell Office to be produced in Rohini Court, in connection with the killing of the wrestler on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar in custody
Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar and his associate Ajay Kumar (back) in the custody of Delhi Police Special cell on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

The case relates to the May 4 incident at the stadium in which wrestler Sagar Rana died and two of his friends, Sonu and Amit Kumar, were injured after they were allegedly assaulted by Sushil Kumar and other wrestlers.

Sushil Kumar left the city as soon as he got to know about the wrestler's death, the police 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, another official said.

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The Delhi Police had announced a reward of Rs one 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 Kumar's arrest.

“On Sunday morning, we got source-based input that Sushil Kumar, along with his associate, was on the way to collect cash from one of his friends in West Delhi when he was caught by a team of special cell from Mundka,” a police officer said.

Accused wrestler Sushil Kumar
Accused wrestler Sushil Kumar and Ajay leave at Delhi Police special cell Office to be produced in Rohini Court, in connection with the killing of the wrestler on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Sushil Kumar
A team of Special Cell leaves Delhi Police special cell Office to produced arrested wrestler Sushil Kumar and Ajay in Rohini Court, in connection with the killing of the wrestler on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
wrestler Sushil Kumar and Ajay
Accused wrestler Sushil Kumar and Ajay leave at Delhi Police special cell Office to be produced in Rohini Court, in connection with the killing of the wrestler on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Sushil Kumar
Accused wrestler Sushil Kumar and Ajay leave at Delhi Police special cell Office to be produced in Rohini Court, in connection with the killing of the wrestler on May 23, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Police are also probing the link between Sushil Kumar and alleged gangster Kala Jatheri, whose nephew Sonu was also injured in the brawl, and the exact motive behind the incident, the officials said.

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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.

Kumar is seen as the face of Indian wrestling even at the age of 37. He won a silver medal in the 2012 Olympics and a bronze in the 2008 Games.