Man nabbed with firearms, claims link to wrestler Sushil Kumar

The CIA branch of the police has arrested a wrestler on charges of carrying illegal firearms. During interrogation, the accused alleged that he had received the weapon and ammunition on the behest of an international wrestler.

Rajshree, Commissioner of Police, said the accused, identified as Vishal of Bhirod village, was nabbed during a patrol by a CIA team comprising Head Constables Niranjan and Pradeep and Constable Deepak three days ago.

The team noticed a suspicious youth near a private school. A search led to the recovery of a foreign-made pistol and six live rounds from his possession. He was arrested after being booked under the Arms Act and sent to two-day police custody.

“Vishal claimed that he had received a pistol and 20 cartridges at the behest of international wrestler Sushil Kumar, who is accused in the wrestler Sagar murder case of Delhi. Vishal has been associated with Sushil since 2014, having trained under him at the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi until 2021. Vishal also claimed to have participated in national-level Under-19 wrestling tournaments,” said Inspector Vivek Malik, incharge, CIA Jhajjar.

Malik said Sushil Kumar was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on March 4, but the Supreme Court cancelled the bail on August 13. During the interim period, Vishal reportedly visited Sushil frequently at his residence in Baprola village, Delhi.

“Vishal further claimed that in May, he had accompanied Sushil to a court hearing at Rohini (Delhi), where Sushil allegedly pointed towards a car parked near the court and instructed him to collect a pistol and 20 cartridges, using his name. Vishal went to the car and brought the ammunition. A few days before his arrest, Vishal also claimed to have fired 13-14 rounds in the air,” he said.

Malik further informed that the investigation was underway to verify the claims made by the accused. “Sushil Kumar is lodged in a Delhi jail and will be taken on production warrant to interrogate in this regard,” Malik concluded.

The Commissioner claimed that over the past 45 days, the police had registered 25 cases of illegal arms in the district, arrested 27 individuals, and seized 25 pistols and 44 live rounds.