The Goa Police on Thursday arrested two aides of Haryana BJP leader Sonali Phogat on alleged murder charges after a post-mortem revealed that there were ‘multiple blunt force injuries’ on her body.
The two associates were named by Phogat’s brother Rinku Dhaka in his complaint filed with the Anjuna police.
Goa Police officials also revealed that there were no sharp-edged injuries found on Sonali Phogat’s body, reported news agency ANI.
The police added that they were not ‘ruling out anything,’ as they were investigating whether Ms. Phogat died under the influence of any substance that may have been provided to her.
Ms. Phogat was initially thought to have died of a massive heart attack in Goa on August 23.
As an actor, Ms. Phogat was last seen as a contestant on the popular reality show Bigg Boss 14. She has also appeared in a Haryanvi film ‘Chhoriyan Chhoron Se Kam Nahi Hoti‘ and has featured in several Punjabi and Haryanvi music videos as well. She was a well-known face on the popular social media platform TikTok.
Phogat joined the BJP in 2008 and went on to become the National Vice President of the BJP’s ‘Mahila Morcha.’
She had contested the Haryana Assembly polls for the BJP from the Adampur seat against Kuldeep Bishnoi in 2019.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar tweeted his condolences on Phogat’s demise, saying ‘Received very sad news of the sudden demise of BJP leader Smt. Sonali Phogat ji. May God rest the departed soul at his feet and give strength to the bereaved family members to bear this immense loss.’
Phogat was 42 years old.
This article has been updated.
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