Police in Pune have arrested Siya Goyal (20) and Chetan Chaudhary (22) for the murder of 26-year-old businessman Ketan Agarwal, who was allegedly pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on June 18. The breakthrough came from CCTV footage showing a man in a hoodie despite the temperature being around 33 degrees Celsius, which detectives found highly suspicious.
Unusual Heat Attire Raises Red Flags
While reviewing security camera recordings from the fort's ticket counter, officers spotted Ketan walking with Siya. A few metres behind them, a man wearing shorts and a hoodie was following. The hood was pulled so low that his face was obscured, and he wore a headset over the hoodie. In another clip, Siya suddenly looked back, and the hooded man immediately sat down. Police cross-checked the temperature at that time on June 18 and found it was 33°C, prompting them to question why anyone would wear a hoodie in such heat.
According to a police officer involved in the investigation, the suspicious movements and the unusual clothing led them to probe deeper into what had initially been registered as an accidental death. Ketan's family had been informed by Siya that he slipped during the trek.
Background of the Engagement
Ketan, a director and chief marketing officer at the family-run Success Group real estate business, was engaged to Siya in February. A grand wedding was planned for November at a palace in Udaipur. However, during the probe, police learned from Ketan's uncle that Siya had expressed reservations about the marriage and had once asked whether the wedding could be postponed by a year.
Ketan's sister, Sanjana, and other family members revealed that Siya had repeatedly pressured Ketan to accompany her to Lohagad Fort. On May 31, she took him there. She insisted again on June 4, but Ketan's mother prevented him from going. Siya and Chetan allegedly wanted to eliminate Ketan before a planned pre-wedding photoshoot in Bali. That trip was cancelled because Ketan's passport mysteriously went missing.
Previous Attempt and the Fatal Push
On June 14, Siya allegedly tried to push Ketan off the cliff, but he managed to hold onto a bush. When he asked why she pushed him, she raised a false alarm about a snake, pretending she had protected him. The fatal incident occurred on June 18, when Siya and Chetan executed their plan. Chetan, wearing the hoodie, followed them and allegedly pushed Ketan into the gorge.
Police expanded their investigation, analysing call detail records and digital communication. They found thousands of calls between Siya and a contact identified as Chetan Chaudhary, with many conversations lasting hours. This technical evidence established a close connection and pointed to a well-thought-out conspiracy.
Motive and Arrests
During interrogation, Chetan revealed that Siya was unwilling to call off the engagement or elope because she feared it would bring a bad name to her family. Instead, they chose to eliminate Ketan. Police arrested both Siya and Chetan on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. They were produced before the Vadgaon Maval Court, which remanded them to seven-day police custody.
The case highlights how a seemingly minor detail—a hoodie on a hot day—led to the unraveling of a premeditated murder plot. The investigation continues as police gather more evidence.
