Goa: Over a fortnight later, cops yet to find motive in Sonali Phogat case

PANAJI: It has been over a fortnight but even after thoroughly interrogating the two accused and verifying the documents seized from Haryana in TikTok star and Haryana BJP leader Sonali Phogat murder case, Goa police have not been able to establish whether Phogat was murdered with the motive of finishing her political career or for economic interest.
The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mapusa on Saturday granted 13 days judicial custody to the two accused Sudhir Sangvan and Sukhwinder Singh, in the murder case. The TikTok star and Bigg Boss contestant was declared brought dead at a private hospital in Anjuna, on August 23.
On Thursday, police had taken 2-day police custody of the accused to verify the documents besides the diary seized by Goa police sleuths in Haryana. A senior police officer said, “Even after going through the Phogat’s personal diaries and documents, we are not able to establish whether the motive was for economic interest or to finish her political career.”
The Goa police team, which was in Haryana for about a week, returned to the state with five of Phogat’s personal diaries. It has recorded the statements of her family and staff. Police said that the team has also collected Phogat’s bank account statement.
“We will continue collecting evidence and investigate the case from various angles,” the police officer said.
Phogat’s brother Rinku Dhaka had demanded a CBI inquiry into his sister’s death. He had alleged that Phogat was murdered with the intention to take over her properties and financial assets and also finish her political career.
Initially, the Goa police had registered a case of unnatural death and following the autopsy report, registered a case of murder and arrested two persons.
Inspector general of police (IGP) Goa, Omvir Singh Bishnoi had said that they suspect economic interest behind the Phogat murder.
Goa police had sent the viscera of Phogat to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, for chemical analysis to ascertain cause of death.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant had said that he has full faith in Goa police and that they will take the case to a logical conclusion.