The Lohagad Fort murder case is a high-profile criminal investigation from Maharashtra in which 26-year-old Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal allegedly died after being deliberately pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on 18 June 2026. What was initially reported as a trekking accident later became a murder investigation after police uncovered evidence suggesting a planned conspiracy.
The People Involved
Victim: Ketan Agarwal, a 26-year-old businessman from Pune.
Main accused: Siya Goyal, a 20-year-old Ketan's fiancée.
Co-accused: Chetan Chaudhary, Siya's alleged secret boyfriend.
According to police, Siya and Ketan were engaged and were reportedly planning a lavish wedding later that year.
What Happened
Police allege that Siya invited Ketan on a birthday trip to Lohagad Fort. During the trek, investigators say Siya and Chetan isolated Ketan near a cliff. After earlier alleged attempts to kill him failed, they allegedly pushed him from a high viewpoint, causing fatal injuries. Initially, the death appeared to be an accidental fall, a common risk on mountain forts during trekking. But
The Planned Murder
According to the police investigation, the Siya planned the murder for several weeks. They intentionally made more than one unsuccessful attempt before the final incident. One reported plan involved using a snakebite story to disguise the death, but it was abandoned,d so they ultimately chose the isolated fort location because it could make the death appear accidental. These allegations are based on the police investigation and would ultimately need to be proven in court.
How Police Solved the Case
Investigators worked together on the case and made findings using several forms of evidence, including CCTV footage tracking, the movements of the Siya, mobile phone location data, all
records and chats, statements from witnesses, digital evidence from social media and inconsistent statements made during questioning. They found that Chetan travelled separately, allegedly using a scooter to reduce electronic tracking. So the Police concluded that the death was not an accident but a planned homicide.
The Instagram Post
One detail that drew public attention was Siya's activity on social media after Ketan's death. Investigators examined an Instagram post that they considered unusual in light of the circumstances. While the post became widely discussed online, it is only one part of the broader evidence and was not, by itself, the basis of the case.
Possible Motive
Police have suggested several possible motives for Siya, including Siya's alleged relationship with Chetan, her desire to avoid marrying Ketan while continuing the other relationship, the belief that Ketan's death would remove an obstacle to their future together, and the exact motive will be examined during the trial.
Arrests and Charges
Following the investigation,n Siya Goyal was arrested, ed and Chetan Chaudhary, her secret boyfriend, was also arrested. They face charges like murder and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. As of now, the case is before the courts and both accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Why the Case Received National Attention
The case attracted widespread media coverage because of the allegation that the victim was killed by his own fiancée, claims that the murder was planned over several weeks, the dramatic setting at a historic hill fort and the use of digital evidence including CCTV and phone records to reconstruct events. Public discussion of social media activity following the incident went viral and became gossip for everyone.
Current Status
The police investigation has resulted in the arrests of the two accused. The prosecution is expected to present its evidence during trial, where the court will determine guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented.
But I think in this whole case I would just like to discuss one simple thing that even if she had a boyfriend or not or she killed him or not does that actually matter because the family of the person who died is already suffering from the trauma of his death and no matter what I think first that people should not be allowed to go on dangerous or banned places of these types of forts and there should be strict actions taken for their safety because these forts are quite old, so we should maintain at least this much security that no one can fall, jump or push someone from these spots.
References:
- Mini videos on YouTube and Instagram
- Indian Express
- Times of India
- NDTV. Com