A Pune court on Friday remanded Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary in 14-day judicial custody in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal. Goyal (20) and Chaudhary (22) are accused of pushing Agarwal to his death from a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune district on June 18. Agarwal and Goyal were set to marry in November this year.
Court Hearing and Custody Decision
The two accused were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class A M Vibhute after the expiry of their police custody. The prosecution sought a three-day extension of police custody, arguing that data recovered from the mobile phones of Goyal and Chaudhary contained chats in signs and coded language, and that their custodial interrogation was necessary to decipher the conversations. The counsel for Goyal and Chaudhary opposed the plea, contending police had already been given sufficient time to investigate the case and that further custodial interrogation was unwarranted.
Prosecution's Request Denied
After hearing both sides, the court rejected the prosecution's plea and remanded the accused in judicial custody till July 16. According to PTI, the court found no sufficient grounds to extend police custody, given the time already spent in custody for investigation. The case has drawn significant attention due to the alleged involvement of a premeditated plan and coded communications between the accused.
The murder of Ketan Agarwal, a real estate developer, occurred at the popular tourist spot Lohagad Fort. Police investigations revealed that Goyal and Chaudhary had allegedly conspired to kill Agarwal, with Chaudhary being Goyal's alleged lover. The incident has shocked the local community, given the upcoming marriage between Agarwal and Goyal.
Next Steps in Legal Proceedings
The accused will remain in judicial custody until July 16, when their next court appearance is scheduled. The prosecution may seek further investigation or file a charge sheet before that date. The case highlights the use of coded language in criminal communications, which law enforcement is working to decode as part of the ongoing probe.
