CCTV Caught Killer's Hoodie in 40-Degree Heat

What appeared to be a tragic accident at Lohagad Fort, Pune, Maharashtra, has now emerged as one of the state’s most shocking murder investigations. The death of 26-year-old Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal, who fell nearly 400 feet into a gorge on June 18, was initially believed to be an accidental slip while taking a picture during a birthday outing with his fiancée, Siya Goyal. However, the police investigation later revealed that the fall was no accident, but rather a well-planned conspiracy involving Siya Goyal and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary.

The case has stunned the whole nation not only because of the betrayal but also because Ketan and Siya were just months away from their wedding. Their families had already begun with the preparations for a grand ceremony in Udaipur, Rajasthan, scheduled in November, 2026. According to reports, a luxury palace worth 17 crores had been booked for their wedding celebrations. Instead of looking forward to their new beginnings, the accused were allegedly plotting Ketan’s murder for weeks. After a heavy investigation, both Siya and Chetan were arrested on June 23 on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.

Ketan Agarwal was the son of prominent real estate businessman Vishal Agarwal in Pune, Maharashtra and Ketan worked as a director in their family business. He was a hardworking man and a young entrepreneur with a promising future as described by friends and family. According to the police, Siya Goyal, 20, was engaged to Ketan Agarwal but was allegedly in a relationship with 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary, a resident of Kondhwa in Pune. The investigators believe she did not want to marry Ketan as she was already in a relationship with Chetan. Her parents had forced her into this marriage. She saw Ketan as an obstacle in her relationship.

According to the investigation, the murder was not an impulsive act but a culmination of several failed attempts. One of the alleged first plans involved a pre-wedding trip to Bali, Indonesia. It was cancelled when Ketan’s passport went missing at the airport. The police are examining if this incident is linked with an attempt to kill him outside India, although the investigation is still underway regarding that angle. Another alleged attempt happened on June 14 during a visit to Lohagad Fort. According to Ketan’s father, Siya pushed his son towards the edge of the fort, but Ketan managed to save himself by grabbing onto bushes near the edge. She then reportedly shouted “Snake! Snake!” and hugged him while claiming that she was trying to save him from a snake. At the time, Ketan did not suspect anything and took this incident as an unfortunate mishap. The Police investigated and claimed that right after this failed attempt, the accused decided to lure Ketan back to the same location four days later.

On June 18, Siya and Ketan visited the Lohagad fort under the pretext of celebrating Siya’s birthday. According to the investigators, Chetan reached the location separately to avoid any suspicion and to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. Once the three were at a quiet, isolated and unnoticed place in the fort itself, Ketan was attacked from behind before being pushed off the cliff. He fell nearly 400 feet into the gorge, suffering fatal injuries that led to his death. The entire incident was staged to look like an accident. Siya allegedly reported the officials right after the accident, claiming that Ketan slipped while taking a picture near the edge of the fort. Given that the location was isolated and there were no eyewitnesses or immediate evidence, the investigators later began to suspect foul play after noticing inconsistencies in the case.

The turning point came in the case when the police found CCTV footage of the roads leading to the fort. They noticed a man wearing a hoodie despite temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius. The unusual choice of clothing drew attention. The investigators suspected that the clothing was used to hide identity rather than to protect himself from the weather. Further examination of the footage, mobile phone records, and location data placed Chaudhary at the crime scene at a relevant time. They also analysed the communication records between Siya and Chetan that happened before the accident. Every detail concluded that both Siya and Chetan had planned the murder rather than it occurring accidentally. Police eventually arrested both Siya and Chetan.

Ketan’s father, Vishal Agrawal, publicly shared his thoughts that made him question the accident. The family’s suspicions began after Siya’s reaction to Ketan’s death. He claimed that Siya appeared unusually calm when Ketan’s body was brought to his home. She showed little visible grief, but these behaviours were not direct evidence,ce nor it established any criminal involvement, but they prompted the family to look at the accident closely. He also allegedly said that Siya’s family were aware of her and Chetan’s relationship but did not disclose it. Expressing his agony, he questioned why Siya did not deny the marriage if she loved someone else. If she had told, he would have refused to move further with their engagement. Ketan’s family has also requested the investigators to examine whether anyone else had prior knowledge of the alleged conspiracy. The investigators, however, have not found involvement of other individuals yet.

The case of Siya Goyal’s and Chetan Choudhary’s alleged murder conspiracy has shaken the nation because what appeared to be a tragic accident turned into one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched criminal cases. The investigators are trying to collect every possible piece of evidence, reconstructing the crime scene and examining every aspect of the alleged conspiracy. While they believe that they have uncovered a pre-planned murder plot, the case still has to be presented in the courts. The allegations are yet to be proven through trial, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty under the law. For the Agarwal family, however, the investigation has become a path to justice for their beloved son, Ketan Agarwal. A wedding that was supposed to bring happiness and love into their family turned into a nightmare. All it has brought is unimaginable grief, unanswered questions and a criminal investigation that has captured India’s attention.

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