A trek to Lohagad Fort near Pune that was initially believed to be an accidental fall has now taken a dramatic turn, with police alleging that real estate businessman Ketan Agarwal was murdered by his fiancée and her alleged lover. The case has triggered shock in Pune’s business and social circles after investigators arrested Siya Goyal and Chetan Babulal Chaudhary in connection with the death.
According to police, the 26-year-old director of a family-run real estate firm went trekking on June 18 with Siya Goyal, supposedly to celebrate her birthday. During the outing, Ketan fell nearly 400 feet into a gorge and was initially believed to have slipped while posing for photographs amid strong winds. Siya allegedly told police that the fall was accidental, and an accidental death report was first filed.
However, further investigation raised suspicions. Police said they examined multiple angles, including personal relationships and financial matters, before uncovering what they described as a murder conspiracy. Investigators now allege that Siya was in a relationship with Chaudhary and did not want to marry Ketan, who had been scheduled to wed her in November.
The police claim the two conspired to eliminate Ketan by luring him to the fort and pushing him into the gorge. Chaudhary was detained during questioning, and police say interrogation revealed details of the alleged plan. Following a complaint by Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, a murder and criminal conspiracy case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The victim’s family has also raised questions about whether Siya’s family knew about the relationship and may have been aware of the conspiracy. His father alleged that there may even have been an attempt to kill Ketan during an earlier visit to the same spot days before the fatal fall. Police, meanwhile, said the investigation is continuing to establish the exact sequence of events and determine whether others were involved.
The case has drawn wider attention not only because of the alleged betrayal involved, but also because of the scale of the wedding preparations reportedly underway before the engagement ended in tragedy. Lohagad Fort, where the incident took place, is a major heritage site linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and attracts trekkers throughout the year.
