Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has responded to the Pune Lohagad Fort murder case, stating that families should not automatically be blamed for the actions of their children, while also raising concerns about the influence of social media, artificial intelligence, and peer groups on young minds.
In an Instagram Story, Kangana wrote, “These days, just looking at the families, homes or parents, you can never be sure about the sanskars of the children. What is more important is who is programming them, who they spend time with, what are their influences on SM/AI or real life (sic).”
She further added, “Parents cannot be blamed because people are living so many parallel lives. People carefully build desirable perception of themselves because it is all about how they are seen, not how they feel or who they really are, so families cannot be judged for children’s actions (sic).”
Her comments come in the backdrop of the investigation into the death of 26-year-old businessman Ketan Agarwal, who died on June 18 after falling nearly 400 feet into a gorge at Lohagad Fort in Pune. The case was initially treated as an accidental fall during a trek but later turned into a murder investigation.
According to police, Ketan’s fiancée Siya Goyal first claimed he slipped while taking photographs near the edge of the fort. However, CCTV footage later showed a man in a hoodie following the couple shortly before the incident; the man was identified as Chetan Chaudhary.
Investigators allege that Siya and Chetan were in a relationship and that Chetan instigated Siya to eliminate Ketan. Police further claim Siya repeatedly persuaded Ketan to visit the fort in the weeks before his death, and that the killing was planned in advance.
Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary are currently in police custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
