Sonali Phogat Murder Case Investigation: 10 Things We Know So Far

The investigation into Bharatiya Janata Party leader and reality television star Sonali Phogat's death has taken a shocking turn after the discovery of "multiple blunt force injuries" on her body in the autopsy. Following this new development, Goa Police DG Jaspal Singh announced on August 25 that they will question Phogat's personal assistants Sudhir Sangwan and Sukhwinder Wasi. Following the release of the post-mortem report, the Goa Police has now opened a murder investigation in the case.

On August 22, Phogat was rushed to the St Anthony Hospital at Anjuna in North Goa, allegedly when she started feeling uneasy after consuming food at Curlies restaurant with her two assistants. However, the 42-year-old was declared brought dead. While initial reports claimed that the politician had died due to a heart attack, her family soon raised suspicions of a foul play and levied accusations against her PAs.

In a span of three days, the investigation of the case has taken many drastic turns, with claims of sexual abuse, blackmail, and drug abuse.

Here are 10 things we know about the Sonali Phogat murder case investigation:

1. Phogat, who hails from Hisar, Haryana, is survived by a daughter named Yashodhara, while her husband passed away in 2016 under mysterious circumstances. She was a popular content creator on TikTok and even participated in the 2020 edition of the reality show Bigg Boss.

2. Although initial reports said that she died of a heart attack on August 22, her family believes that there was foul play involved. Soon after the news of her death broke, Phogat's sister spoke with reporters and stated, "She cannot experience a heart attack. We demand a proper investigation by the CBI. My family is not ready to accept that she died of a heart attack. She had no such medical problem."

3. Recalling the last call with the politician, her sister said, "She had said she was feeling uneasy. She sensed as if something was not right as if some conspiracy was being played against her. Later in the morning, we received news that she was no more."

4. The Goa Police received a formal complaint from Sonali Phogat's brother Rinku Dhaka alleging that she was murdered by two of her associates. Following this the Goa Police opened an investigation under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (concerning offense of murder).

5. Dhaka's police complaint said, "She (Sonali) said Sangwan had given her food laced with some intoxicant, raped her and made a video and was threatening to make the video viral on social media."

6. The complaint further accused Sangwan of taking possession of the deceased politician's phones, property records, ATM cards, and house keys. Dhaka also accused Sangwan of allegedly threatening to ruin Phogat's political and acting careers.

Suggested Reading: Who Was Sonali Phogat? Bigg Boss 14 Contestant And Politician Passes Away At 42

7. According to the brother, Phogat had spoken to her mother, sister, and brother-in-law a few hours before her death, according to the complaint. According to her brother, Rinku Dhaka, Sonali complained to him about her staff during the conversation.

8. Dhaka said that the murder of his sister was intentional. "I have done some inquiries on my own after arriving in (Goa) on Tuesday evening. It is not a normal death."

9. After her family gave their consent, a team of forensic specialists from the Goa Medical College and Hospital performed an autopsy on Phogat's body on Thursday morning. In his report, Dr Sunil Shrikant Chimbolkar of the GMCH's Forensic Science Department reserved cause of death. The report, however, stated that Phogat had "multiple blunt force injuries" on her body.

10. Goa police has detained the two accused men, Sudhir Sagwan and Sukhwinder Wasi, on Thursday.

Suggested Reading: Yashodhara Phogat, Daughter Of Late Sonali Phogat Demands Justice For Late Politician