Sonali was ‘drugged’, kin say political conspiracy

MUMBAI: The Goa police said on Friday that BJP leader and actor Sonali Phogat was drugged by her manager Sudhir Sangwan and his aide Sukhwinder Singh at a restaurant on Anjuna beach.Sonali’s family members who had earlier alleged foul play in her death said they suspected political conspiracy in the murder.

Goa IG Omvir Singh Bishnoi said the investigators confronted the two suspects with the CCTV footage from Curlies restaurant that they visited on August 22. The two “confessed” to having forced Sonali to consume an “obnoxious” substance after which she became unstable.

“We don’t know what exactly the chemical was -- apparently a synthetic drug -- that was added to the drink forcibly given to her. A chemical analysis can go into that aspect,” he said.The suspects have been remanded in police custody for two day after they were produced before a judge.

Phogat, who belonged to Hisar, was brought dead to St Anthony Hospital in Anjuna in North Goa on August 23. The cause of her death was attributed to a suspected heart attack.“Sudhir Sangwan and Sukhwinder confessed that they had intentionally given the accused some obnoxious chemical after which the victim wasn’t herself and needed care,” Bishnoi said.The police are yet to identify people who are seen partying in the CCTV footage.