The investigation into the murder of 25-year-old realtor Ketan Ag arwal has intensified. Pune Rural Police discovered that the accused, Siya Goyal (20) and her lover Chetan Chaudhary (22), systematically wiped their entire digital footprint—including phone chat histories and recycle bins—before and after the crime.
The mobile devices have been dispatched to a forensic laboratory to retrieve the deleted data logs.
The Conspiracy and Execution
Investigations reveal that Goyal and Chaudhary were in constant contact for nearly six months leading up to the incident, logging an extraordinary 2,004 phone calls totaling 238 hours of conversation.
On the day of the crime, the duo allegedly finalized their plot at a local cafe, mapping out the precise spot at Lohagad Fort in Maval taluka where Agarwal would be killed.
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The Signal: According to the police, Goyal gave a pre-decided signal by sitting down.
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The Act: This prompted Chaudhary to approach from behind and push an unsuspecting Agarwal into the deep gorge.
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The Confession: While Chaudhary initially denied being at the cliffside, his narrative fell apart during interrogation, leading both suspects to confess and narrate the sequence of events.
Motive and Background
Agarwal and Goyal were engaged and scheduled to marry in November. However, police state that Goyal was reluctant to marry him and conspired with Chaudhary to eliminate him.
Addressing media speculation regarding a motive, the victim’s father, Vishal Agarwal, clarified that his son wore a small hair patch/wig, which Goyal’s family was fully informed about before the engagement. Disputing high-society rumors, Goyal’s father also noted that the planned Udaipur wedding budget was around Rs 3 crore, not an extravagant palace and chartered jet affair.
Meanwhile, Goyal’s mother claimed her daughter did not originally want to go trekking on June 18 but was persuaded to join by Agarwal and his mother.
Government Intervenes: Fast-Track Court and Special Prosecutor
The gravity of the crime has drawn immediate intervention from the Maharashtra state government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with the victim’s father in Pune, promising absolute support.
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Fast-Track Trial: The state has officially accepted the family’s demand to try the case in a fast-track court.
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Special Prosecutor: Renowned advocate Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as the special public prosecutor.
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Expanding the Net: Police have summoned Goyal’s brother and are calling in other relatives and friends to investigate if more individuals were involved in the conspiracy.
Chief Minister’s Reflection: “It is an extremely shocking and incomprehensible incident,” CM Fadnavis said, noting that it reflects a disturbing trend. “As a society, we need to reflect on why educated young men and women from good families develop such criminal intent and a desire for revenge.”
