India
oi-Ashish Rana
What initially appeared to be a tragic accident during a trek at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala has now turned into a sensational murder case. Pune businessman Ketan Vishal Agarwal died after falling into a valley on June 18 while on an outing with his fiancée, Siya Goyal. While the incident was first treated as an accidental death, a series of discoveries by investigators later pointed towards an alleged conspiracy involving Siya and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary.
Pune businessman Ketan Vishal Agarwal’s death on June 18 at Lohagad Fort, initially accidental, is now a murder case involving fiancée Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary, charged with conspiracy and murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and arrested.
Family’s Doubts Sparked A Fresh Probe
The investigation took a different turn after Ketan’s family questioned the circumstances surrounding his death. According to the first account given to police, Ketan had slipped while taking photographs near the fort and fallen into the valley.
However, relatives insisted that Ketan was familiar with the trekking route and had visited Lohagad Fort multiple times before. They found it difficult to believe that he would lose balance at a location he knew well.
Acting on the family’s concerns, investigators reopened the case and began examining CCTV footage, mobile location records and movements of people connected to the trip.
The Hoodie Clue That Changed Everything
One of the most significant breakthroughs came from CCTV footage recorded at the foothills of Lohagad Fort. Investigators spotted a man dressed in a hoodie with his head covered and headphones on.
The clothing immediately stood out because temperatures had reached 33 degrees Celsius that morning.
“When we checked the June 18 temperature, it was 33 degrees Celsius that morning. During scrutiny of CCTV footage from the foothills, we noticed a person wearing a hoodie with his head covered and also wearing headphones. This raised suspicion because such clothing was unusual considering the weather conditions,” Senior Police Inspector Dinesh Tayade said.
Police later identified the man as Chetan Chaudhary. Investigators allege he was in a relationship with Siya Goyal and had travelled to Lohagad Fort on the day of Ketan’s death.
Officials also discovered that Chetan had allegedly left his mobile phone at his Kondhwa residence before heading to the fort, a move investigators suspect was aimed at avoiding digital tracking. Despite this, CCTV footage and other evidence helped police reconstruct his movements.
More Than 2,000 Calls And An Alleged Plan
As the investigation progressed, police examined communication records between Siya and Chetan. According to investigators, the two had exchanged more than 2,000 phone calls over several months and spent around 238 hours speaking to each other.
Officials further claim that the pair met at a café before the incident, where they allegedly discussed ways to stage an accident at Lohagad Fort.
Police believe Chetan reached the fort before Ketan and Siya arrived. Investigators allege that Ketan was later led towards a secluded section of the fort, where he was pushed into the valley.
The fall proved fatal.
Earlier Warning Signs And A Cancelled Bali Trip
The probe also uncovered an incident that allegedly took place four days before Ketan’s death. During a previous visit to Lohagad Fort, Ketan reportedly felt someone push him from behind. He managed to save himself by grabbing nearby shrubs.
According to investigators, Siya later explained the incident by claiming she had seen a snake and was attempting to protect him.
Ketan had reportedly discussed concerns about Siya’s behaviour with his family. He mentioned that she was frequently on her phone and often referred to a man named Chetan. Since both families were acquainted through business circles, the concerns were not initially viewed as serious.
“We thought about delaying the wedding because she was so young but her parents insisted that we go ahead with it as they would not find a match like my son,” Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, said.
Investigators also looked into a cancelled pre-wedding trip to Bali. The couple was scheduled to travel for a photoshoot, but the journey was called off at Mumbai airport after Ketan’s passport went missing. His family later alleged that Siya may have taken the passport during a stop in Lonavala, resulting in the cancellation of the trip.
Wedding Plans End In Arrests
Ketan and Siya got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry in November. Preparations for the wedding were reportedly underway, with the families having booked a palace in Udaipur for a grand ceremony estimated to cost around ₹14 crore.
During the investigation, police discovered that Siya and Chetan had allegedly been in a relationship for more than a year, something Ketan’s family claims they were unaware of.
Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested and charged with murder and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They have been remanded to seven days of police custody while investigators continue to examine the case.
