On Thursday, an image of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar made its way on the internet in which he can be seen sitting in the non-driver’s side of a white car, wearing a face mask.

© India Today/Arvind Ojha

According to an India Today report this image was captured at the Meerut toll plaza in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Delhi Police, this picture was taken on May 6, which is one day after the death of Sagar Rana, a wrestler who succumbed to injuries following a brawl and for whose murder, Kumar is being searched for.

It is also being confirmed that the police are now looking for the white car in order to find out the 37-year old athlete’s secret hideout.

On Monday, the Delhi Police announced a reward of Rs. 1 Lakh for anyone who was willing to give any information on the whereabouts of the Olympian and a Rs, 50,000 reward for knowledge on his associate Ajay Kumar.

#JUSTIN #SushilKumar

Chhatrasal Stadium murder case: Reward of Rs 1 Lakh on info leading to arrest of wrestler @WrestlerSushil announced. Rs 50,000 reward announced for Ajay, who is absconding too: Delhi Police

Non-bailable warrant has been issued against Kumar & others. pic.twitter.com/IacjyRgcZa

According to reports, Rana was assaulted by Kumar and a bunch of other wrestlers on May 4, a day after which, the young athlete breathed his last.  An FIR was registered against Kumar for abduction and criminal conspiracy and on Saturday, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him at Delhi’s Rohini court.

On Wednesday, Kumar’s lawyer, Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, made a plea to the Delhi judiciary to grant anticipatory bail. In the statement, Luthra said: 

"It appears that the statement of the victims has already been recorded and alleged recoveries have already been made. No custodial investigation is required as nothing is to be recovered at the instance of the applicant."

Luthra also added that Sonu, present during the brawl, was a member of Kala Jatheria's gang with various criminal cases against him.

"These people, who I am up against, are criminal-minded people and I will suffer at their hands," he told the court on behalf of Sushil Kumar.

On May 11, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had made a statement to the Press Trust of India (PTI) talking about how the allegations and charges against Kumar had damaged the image of the sport in the country. 

“Yes, I must say that the image of Indian wrestling has got hurt badly by this. But we have nothing to do with what wrestlers do away from the mat. We are concerned with their on-mat performance,” WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar told PTI.

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