Punjab Newsline | Pune
A shocking murder investigation near Pune has revealed new details in the death of 26-year-old builder Ketan Agrawal, who initially appeared to have died in a trekking accident at Lohagad Fort. Police say CCTV footage showing a hooded man following Ketan and his fiancée, Siya Goyal, became a crucial clue that exposed an alleged murder conspiracy.
According to investigators, the CCTV footage from the fort's ticket counter showed Ketan and Siya walking together, while a man wearing shorts and a hoodie followed them from a short distance. Police found the clothing suspicious because temperatures on June 18 were around 33°C. The man's face was reportedly hidden beneath the hood, and he was also wearing a headset.
Officers said another clip showed Siya suddenly turning around, prompting the hooded man to crouch down, further raising suspicions. What was first registered as an accidental death soon became the focus of a deeper investigation.
Police allege that Ketan was pushed into a gorge during a trekking trip by his fiancée Siya Goyal, 20, and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, 22. Initially, Siya told Ketan’s family that he had slipped and fallen during the trek.
During the investigation, police learned from Ketan’s relatives that Siya had previously expressed hesitation about the marriage and had even asked whether the wedding could be postponed by a year. The couple got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry in a grand ceremony in Udaipur this November.
Investigators also discovered that Siya had repeatedly insisted on taking Ketan to Lohagad Fort before the fatal incident. Police claim she allegedly attempted to push him from a cliff on June 14, but he survived by grabbing onto a bush. According to investigators, Siya then allegedly pretended she had saved him after falsely claiming there was a snake nearby.
Further analysis of call detail records and digital communications reportedly revealed frequent contact between Siya and Chetan. Technical evidence suggested a close relationship between the two, prompting police to examine Chetan’s social media profiles and photographs.
Authorities say comparing those images with the CCTV footage helped identify the hooded man as Chetan. Based on technical evidence and intelligence inputs, police detained him for questioning. Investigators claim that questioning exposed a pre-planned conspiracy involving both suspects.
Police believe the motive was Siya’s relationship with Chetan and her unwillingness to marry Ketan. Investigators allege that Siya did not want to break off the engagement or elope because she feared social stigma and family embarrassment.
Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested and charged with murder and criminal conspiracy. The investigation is ongoing.
