What happened in Goa: The murky details of Sonali Phogat's death

Social media star turned politician Sonali Phogat died on Tuesday (August 23) in Goa. Earlier it was claimed that she died of a heart attack. However, after the family's pressure, two people have been arrested and a murder case has been registered in the death of Phogat. 

Sonali Phogat's mortal remains were taken to Hisar, Haryana. Her last rites were held on August 26.

Here are the murky details of Sonali Phogat's murder: 

CCTV footage: Goa Police revealed on August 26, 2022, that they found CCTV footage in which Sonali Phogat was seen dancing at a club with the two accused - Sudhir Sangwan and Sukhwinder Wasi. The police said the footage also showed the accused forcefully making Phogat consume a substance, after which she is visibly seen losing control of herself. At 4.30 am, Sonali Phogat was taken into a toilet, still not looking in control of herself, and was there for 2 hours. Police say they don't yet know what happened during that time. The accused have confessed to drugging Sonali Phogat. 

#WATCH | Sonali Phogat death: Goa IGP says,"...Video establishes that one of the accused forcefully made her consume a substance. When confronted, accused Sukhwinder Singh & Sudhir Sangwan confessed they intentionally mixed obnoxious chemical into a liquid & made her drink it..." pic.twitter.com/85aPyjuGy4

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2022

Arrest: Two people - Sudhir Sangwan (Phogat's personal assistant) and Sukhwinder Wasi (Sangwan's friend) - have been arrested. Sangwan and Wasi had accompanied Phogat to Goa. A murder case has been registered against the two persons at Anjuna Police Station. 

Goa | Murder case registered against 2 persons in Anjuna PS, probe on. The deceased's brother has mentioned the involvement of her PA and one other person. Post-mortem report expected in 1-2 hours. Victim's body will reach Delhi tonight: IGP OS Bishnoi on Sonali Phogat death case pic.twitter.com/j8xTHUPBim

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2022

Post-mortem: The family had demanded a post-mortem and the results revealed several "blunt force injuries" on Phogat's body. However, women police officers who inspected Phogat's body did not find any injuries due to sharp-edged weapons. Chemical analysis results have not been made public yet.

A probe should be done as per the filed FIR. The post-mortem report says that her (Sonali Phogat) body has marks of injury: Rinku, brother of Sonali Phogat pic.twitter.com/fCpUr1oHeL

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2022

What the family claims: Sonali Phogat's family raised suspicion over the BJP leader's death soon after the news reached them. According to Phogat's sister Rupesh, Sonali had confided in them of "something fishy" going on.

Haryana | I received a call from her the evening before her death. She said she wanted to talk over WhatsApp & said that something fishy is going on... later, she cut the call & then didn't pick up: Rupesh, sister of Haryana BJP leader and content creator Sonali Phogat (23.08) https://t.co/BfMUrypZsj pic.twitter.com/m7pf5vrDw7

— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2022

Phogat's brother Watan Phogat said that it was her PA Sushir Sangwan who told them that Sonali died of a heart attack but kept changing his version which made them suspicious. 

The family has accused Sudhir Sangwan and his friend Sukhwinder Wasi of rape, extortion and murder. They claim that Sudhir Sangwan had raped Sonali Phogat in the past after lacing her food with drugs and was blackmailing her by threatening to make the video viral on social media. 

Sonali Phogat's family also revealed that she was taken to the famous Curlies restaurant to meet a friend of Sangwan who worked there. Sonali reportedly felt uneasy after visiting the restaurant and she was declared dead soon after. Sonali's family suspects she was poisoned as her ear had reportedly turned blue. 

Curlies owner Edwin Nunes confirmed that Sonali Phogat had come to the restaurant but none of the staff knew any of them and they were like normal customers to them.

Rinku, Sonali Phogat's brother, told media persons that there are several inconsistencies with her visit to Goa itself. Sonali was reportedly brought to Goa as per a pre-planned conspiracy, Rinku said. He also alleged that there was supposed to be a movie shoot on August 24, but hotel rooms were booked only for two days (August 21-22).

Goa | She had no plan to come to Goa. Was brought as per pre-planned conspiracy. There was no movie shoot, 2 rooms in hotel had been booked only for 2 days. Film shooting was supposed to happen on Aug 24 but rooms only booked for Aug 21-22: Rinku, brother of Sonali Phogat pic.twitter.com/tTxWhpGQIC

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2022

They also alleged that upon her death, no BJP leader called them to offer their condolences. 

The politics: Opposition in Goa criticised the BJP government for trying to close the case in a hurry.

Y'day they said she died of heart attack. Today, post-mortem revealed several blunt force injuries. It proves CM likes to give clean chit, jump the gun. This is giving Goa a bad name. This shows state of affairs here: Goa forward party MLA, Vijai Sardesai on Sonali Phogat's death pic.twitter.com/3PjCw7Kk7G

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2022

On the other hand, Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said that they will conduct a CBI probe if the family requests it in writing. 

In 2016, Sonali Phogat's husband Sanjay Phogat was found dead under mysterious circumstances near a field at the family's farmhouse.