Investigations by Goa police into the death of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Sonali Phogat have revealed that her Personal Assistant (PA) Sudhir Sangwan had tried to take her properties worth crores in lease deed, just 10 days before her death.
However, the deal could not be signed with Phogat yet to give her signature. This leads to questions about whether the unsigned deal is the bone of contention between Phogat and her close associate, Sangwan?
Sangwan had prepared the papers for her properties spread over 50 bighas of land in Hisar in the lease deed for just ₹60,000 per year for 20 years. Sources said Sangwan had convinced Phogat to give her properties in the lease, saying that he would take proper care of them.
This 50 bighas of land originally belonged to Phogat, which she gave on lease to Rameshwar Singh in 2018. Phogat got the land back on June 18 this year. However, on July 25, she submitted another application before the same sub-divisional magistrate to put this land under lease. On August 8, she got an appointment for the same.
The properties in question include two bighas of land each in khasra numbers 13/4, 14/2/1, 14/2/2 and four bighas of land each in khasra numbers 15/2, 17/1, 17/2, 18/1, 23/2, 24/1 and 24/2. It also includes eight bighas of land bearing khasra numbers 16 and 25.
As per Phogat’s family and police investigations, Phogat owned properties in Hisar’s Dhandhoor and Sant Nagar worth more than ₹100 crore. They suspect that Sangwan might be eyeing the properties.
Phogat died on August 23 under mysterious circumstances in Goa. Goa police registered a murder case and arrested five people, including Sangwan and four others, three of them are suspected to be drug peddlers.
Jaspal Singh, Director General of Goa Police, had sent a team to Hisar for a detailed investigation. The team had recorded statements from at least a dozen relatives of Phogat, including her teenage daughter, Yashodhara. Phogat’s relatives have requested security for Yashodhara. They are also demanding a CBI probe into the murder of Phogat.
Meanwhile, the Goa police team had seized documents related to Phogat’s farmhouse, located in Hisar’s Dhandoor, lease deed. As per her family members, Phogat often stayed in the farmhouse with Sangwan.
Sangwan, a native of Rohtak, met Phogat in 2019 during her election campaign for the BJP. They became friends, and she appointed him as her PA. According to police, Sangwan got separated from his wife but never divorced her. However, he would stay with Phogat at her properties.
Police sources said Phogat and Sangwan had taken a flat on rent in Gurugram’s Green Society in sector 102, where they would often stay.
The Goa police team also visited Phogat’s Sant Nagar residence and met her family members. They also collected documents related to her properties. Family members said that apart from the residence, Phogat also owned shops in the locality.
Phogat took part in the 14th edition of the television show Big Boss in 2020. Her husband died in 2016. She unsuccessfully contested the last assembly election from the Adampur assembly constituency against Kuldeep Bishnoi.