The investigation into the death of 25-year-old Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal has taken a dramatic turn, with Pune Rural Police now focusing on what they describe as an elaborate digital cover-up allegedly carried out by his 20-year-old fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary.
What was initially believed to be an accidental fall at the historic Lohagad Fort has now been reclassified by investigators as a carefully planned murder. As the probe progresses, cyber forensic experts have become central to the investigation, with police attempting to reconstruct deleted evidence that they believe could reveal the planning behind the crime.
According to investigators, one of the key aspects under scrutiny is Ketan’s mobile phone. Police suspect that moments before the fatal incident, Siya may have taken possession of his phone. Officials are examining whether this was done to prevent Ketan from contacting his family or anyone who could have alerted authorities, while also providing an opportunity to erase potentially incriminating conversations or digital evidence.
The alleged attempt to destroy evidence did not stop there. Investigators claim that both Siya and Chetan systematically cleared their WhatsApp chats, call records, and other messaging histories shortly before and after the incident. Police sources further allege that the duo also emptied the “Recently Deleted” or recycle bin folders on their devices, a move that investigators believe was intended to make data recovery significantly more difficult.
Despite these efforts, all seized mobile phones have now been sent to a state forensic laboratory, where cyber experts are working to retrieve deleted messages, call logs, and other digital records. Modern forensic techniques often allow investigators to recover data even after it has been deleted, and officials hope these findings will help establish the sequence of events leading up to Ketan’s death.
A significant breakthrough reportedly came through the analysis of Call Detail Records (CDRs). Investigators identified a phone call between Siya and Chetan approximately 34 minutes before Ketan was allegedly pushed from the cliff. Police are treating this conversation as a potentially crucial piece of evidence, suspecting that it may have served as the final confirmation before the alleged murder was carried out. Authorities are now examining the timing and surrounding circumstances of the call as part of their case.
The investigation has also uncovered claims suggesting that the incident at Lohagad Fort may not have been the first attempt on Ketan’s life. According to police sources, investigators are probing allegations that there were three previous unsuccessful attempts to harm him. These claims remain under investigation as officers work to gather supporting evidence.
Meanwhile, family members have reportedly told investigators that Ketan had become increasingly suspicious in the weeks leading up to his death. They claim he had expressed concerns about Siya’s growing closeness to Chetan Chaudhary and had questioned the nature of their relationship. Police are now examining whether these concerns point to a possible motive behind the alleged conspiracy.
The high-profile case has also had an unexpected impact on Lohagad Fort itself. Local tourism operators have reported an increase in visitors following widespread media coverage of the investigation. Some tourists are reportedly visiting the exact cliffside location associated with the incident, informally referring to it as “Siya Point” a trend that has sparked debate over the rise of dark tourism and the ethics of turning crime scenes into attractions.
As forensic examinations continue and investigators piece together digital evidence, the Ketan Agarwal murder case remains one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched criminal investigations, with authorities hoping that recovered electronic records will provide crucial answers in the days ahead.
