CBI team arrives, gets cracking on Phogat’s death with FIR
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) into the mysterious death of BJP leader Sonali Phogat and is expected to meet the officers of Goa Police on Friday to examine the case papers of the probe. They will be accompanied by forensic experts.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday asked the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to get the case probed by the central agency hours after the Goa government sent an official communiqué requesting a CBI probe.
The Goan has reliably learnt that a team of CBI officers was slated to meet North Goa’s Superintendent of Police around 4:30 pm on Thursday but it
was rescheduled. “They (CBI) are likely to meet the officer and probably the investigating team too on Friday. All the documents pertaining to the case including evidence collected from Goa, Haryana, Gurugram, and Noida will also be handed over,” an official privy to the development, said.
A re-visit to the now-partially
dismantled Curlies shack is on the cards. Sources said the CBI will record statements of accused Sudhir Sangwan and Sukhwinder Singh, other suspects, and witnesses afresh.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant cleared the file to hand over the probe to CBI, a day after Khap Panchayat in Hisar gave an ultimatum to the government to decide by September 23 or face agitation.
The 42-year-old died en route to a private hospital in Anjuna on August 23. The State police’s initial theory of a fatal heart attack was dismissed by an autopsy report that confirmed injuries.
A further investigation revealed that she was forcibly intoxicated. The politician’s family back in Hisar demanded
the arrest of the two accused and a CBI probe.
The accused have been in custody since August 25. Three other accused including Edwin Nunes, who is believed to be the owner of Curlies, were arrested for the drug trade and bailed out thereafter.
In a CCTV footage of the restaurant that emerged after her death, she was seen dancing with Sangwan. The aide is also purportedly seen forcing her to drink.
Another video shows Phogat being escorted out of the restaurant by her aides, now arrested in which she can be seen staggering and almost falling near the staircase on her way out.