Last Updated:
Months before his death, Ketan Agarwal had voiced concerns about fiancée Siya Goyal and her closeness to another man, his family has alleged.
A photo of Siya Goyal with Ketan Agarwal during their engagement ceremony (L)/Chetan Chaudhary (Source: Social Media)
Ketan Agarwal, the 26-year-old Pune businessman whose death during a trek at Lohagad Fort was initially believed to be an accident, had expressed concerns about his fiancée Siya Goyal’s behaviour before the incident, according to his family.
Investigators have since alleged that Agarwal was murdered in a premeditated conspiracy involving Goyal and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, said his son had voiced reservations about Siya after their engagement in February.
“After the engagement in February, Ketan and Siya met frequently and went out together. At times, Ketan expressed concerns about Siya and asked us whether we had properly verified her antecedents,” Agarwal was quoted as saying.
“But as her family was related to us through our extended family network, I reassured him that everything was fine,” he added.
According to Agarwal, the couple often argued over minor issues, and Ketan had also been concerned about Siya’s frequent use of her phone.
He said Ketan had mentioned the name of Chetan Chaudhary, suspecting there could be a relationship between the two.
“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,” he was quoted as saying.
CCTV FOOTAGE TRIGGERED DEEPER PROBE
According to the police, CCTV footage from Lohagad Fort became a crucial lead in the investigation.
Officials said they spotted a hooded man, later identified as Chetan Chaudhary, following Ketan and Siya at the fort on June 18.
Investigators found it suspicious that the man was wearing a hoodie despite temperatures being around 33 degrees Celsius.
Police also noted unusual movements in the footage, including Siya looking back while the hooded man suddenly sat down, prompting a closer examination of the case.
The incident was initially registered as an accidental death after Siya allegedly informed Ketan’s family that he had slipped during the trek.
However, officers said several circumstances raised suspicion and led them to expand the probe.
Police further learnt from family members that Siya had previously expressed reservations about the marriage and had repeatedly persuaded Ketan to accompany her to Lohagad Fort on multiple occasions before the fatal trek.
Investigators also alleged that an earlier attempt to push Ketan from a cliff had taken place on June 14, but he survived after grabbing a bush.
According to the police, Siya then allegedly claimed there was a snake nearby and portrayed herself as having saved him.
CALL RECORDS REVEALED ALLEGED CONSPIRACY
Police said technical analysis uncovered extensive communication between Siya and Chetan Chaudhary.
“We found thousands of calls exchanged between the two over an extended period, including several conversations lasting for hours,” an officer involved in the probe said.
Investigators said call detail records, digital evidence and social media analysis helped establish what they described as a close relationship between the two accused and pointed towards a “well-thought-out conspiracy”.
Police alleged the motive stemmed from Siya’s relationship with Chaudhary and her unwillingness to proceed with the marriage.
During questioning, Chaudhary allegedly told investigators that Siya did not want to call off the engagement and elope because she feared it would bring disrespect to her family.
FAMILY DEMANDS STRICTEST PUNISHMENT
Meanwhile, Ketan’s grieving family has demanded swift justice.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Vishal Agarwal said, “If she didn’t want to get married, she could have simply refused. We would have cancelled the wedding immediately. Why did they decide to take such a drastic step?”
He urged authorities to fast-track the case and ensure the accused receive the “strictest possible punishment”.
Ketan’s mother also expressed shock over the allegations, saying, “My son is no more. Siya and her boyfriend are entirely responsible for it. She betrayed me and lied.”
“I demand the death penalty for those involved in the incident,” she added.
POLICE SAY ACCUSED CONFESSED
Pune Rural Police Superintendent Sandeep Singh Gill said suspicions emerged because Ketan was an experienced trekker and the circumstances surrounding the fall appeared unusual.
“Subsequent inquiries and information gathered from relatives and friends raised suspicions. It seemed unlikely for such an accident to occur spontaneously,” Gill said.
The officer stated that evidence gathered through witness accounts, technical analysis and confidential sources indicated that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary had conspired to kill Ketan.
Both accused were arrested and booked for murder and criminal conspiracy.
A magistrate court in Pune has remanded them to police custody till June 29 as further investigation continues.
About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
