Pune
oi-Ashish Rana
The investigation into the death of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal has entered another crucial phase after accused Siya Goyal agreed to undergo a polygraph, or lie detector, test. Investigators believe the examination could help resolve conflicting statements given by Goyal and her co-accused, Chetan Chaudhary, in the high-profile murder case.
Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal’s murder investigation advances as accused Siya Goyal consents to a polygraph test, aiming to resolve conflicting statements with co-accused Chetan Chaudhary regarding the June 18 incident at Lohagad Fort.
Goyal, 20, is accused of conspiring with Chaudhary to push her fiancé, 25-year-old Ketan Agarwal, into a 400-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort in Maharashtra on June 18. The couple was scheduled to marry in November this year.
Siya Goyal Gives Consent For Polygraph Test
Under Indian law, a polygraph test can only be conducted with the consent of the accused. According to her lawyer, Vipul Dusing, Siya Goyal gave her consent to the Lonavala Rural Police on Thursday.
Investigators have also approached the court seeking permission to conduct lie detector tests on both Goyal and 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary. The test records physiological changes such as blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing pattern and sweating while a person answers questions, helping investigators assess the consistency of their responses.
Police Recreate Alleged Murder Rehearsal
As part of the investigation, police took Goyal to a location in Pune on Thursday where she and Chaudhary are believed to have practised how they would allegedly push Agarwal off a cliff before the incident.
“Investigation has revealed that Siya and Chetan had rehearsed at a hillock-like space near a club in Lullanagar how to push Ketan off the cliff at Lohagad Fort,” a Pune Rural Police official said. “Today, Siya was taken to the spot, where she identified the place where they had allegedly carried out the rehearsal.”
Police believe the rehearsal took place in May and are working to determine the exact date and other circumstances surrounding it.
During the investigation, officers also recovered clothes allegedly worn by Goyal on June 18 from her residence in Pune’s Market Yard area.
Digital Evidence Under Detailed Examination
Investigators said they have gathered a significant amount of technical and digital evidence that could help reconstruct the sequence of events leading to Agarwal’s death.
“We have also collected substantial amount of technical and digital data, which is currently being analysed and cross-verified,” the official added.
Police are examining mobile phone records, digital communications and other electronic evidence alongside witness statements as they continue the investigation.
Why Investigators Want The Lie Detector Test
Police say there were no eyewitnesses when Agarwal allegedly fell into the gorge, making forensic and technical evidence especially important. Investigators hope the polygraph tests will help determine who actually pushed him, as both Goyal and Chaudhary have reportedly blamed each other for the fatal act.
The investigation is also focused on whether Goyal allegedly gave a pre-planned signal before the attack, what discussions took place at a café a day before the incident, and the details of three alleged failed attempts and earlier rehearsals.
Officers are further trying to establish whether Goyal deleted any evidence from Chaudhary’s phone while it was in her possession. They are also examining the nature of her relationship with Chaudhary and whether she had become reluctant to marry Ketan Agarwal before the alleged murder.
Both accused remain in police custody until July 3 as the investigation continues.
