MHA recommends CBI probe into Sonali Phogat death: Sources
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of BJP leader and Tik-Tok star Sonali Phogat. This comes after a Khap mahapanchayat demanding a CBI probe into her murder was organized in Hisar on Sunday. Goa CM Pramod Sawant had said that he will write a letter to the Home Ministry to transfer the case.
Why does this story matter?
Phogat's death shocked many in the entertainment and political circles. She died under mysterious circumstances while on a visit to Goa. CCTV videos showed her being forced to drink on the dance floor of a famous restaurant, Curlie's. While first touted as a heart attack, the police registered a murder case following the postmortem and arrested six people, including the owner of Curlie's restaurant.
'Case being transferred on people's demand'
While Phogat's family had been demanding for CBI to take over the investigation for many days, the announcement was made by CM Sawant on Monday. CM Sawant said that he would "personally write a letter to the Union Home Ministry" to transfer the case, after which the MHA referred it to the CBI. CM Sawant said that it is "the people's demand."
MHA recommends CBI probe
What did CM Sawant say?
'We have no hopes from the government…'
Notably, CM Sawant said that Phogat's daughter, Yashodhara, had been demanding a CBI probe. "We demand a CBI investigation into the case. We have no hopes from the government now, received no assurance from them," Yashodhara told ANI on Sunday. The family of the 42-year-old celebrity also met Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar last month to request a transfer of the case.
Watch: Khap mahapanchayat in Hisar demands CBI probe
Police teams investigated in Haryana
While investigating her murder last week, the police forces of Goa and Haryana found that some expensive cars and pricey furniture had gone missing from her Haryana farmhouse. Earlier, the police said Sudhir Sangwan, Phogat's aide, had an eye on her wealth and property worth over Rs. 100 crore. Officials also confirmed that Phogat was drugged with methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth.
What do we know about the case so far?
Six people have been arrested for Phogat's death in two cases (murder and narcotics), including two of her aides, two alleged drug suppliers, the owner of Goa's Curlie's restaurant, and a computer operator from Haryana. Phogat—reportedly drugged by her aide Sangwan hours before her death—breathed her last in Goa on August 23. Postmortem revealed that she had blunt force injuries on her body.
