Four days before his death, 25-year-old Ketan Agarwal allegedly survived an earlier attempt on his life at Maharashtra’s Lohagad Fort, according to claims made by his family.
They allege that during a visit to the fort on June 14, Ketan’s fiancée, 20-year-old Siya Goel, pushed him near the edge of a cliff. A tree reportedly broke his fall, preventing a fatal accident. The family claims Siya later explained the incident by saying she had spotted a snake nearby and pushed Ketan to protect him from danger.
Despite the incident, Ketan returned to Lohagad Fort on June 18. Police now allege that Siya, along with her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, used the opportunity to carry out a planned murder by pushing him into a deep gorge, resulting in his death.
What was initially treated as an accidental fall has since become a murder investigation. Pune Rural Police allege that Ketan’s death was the outcome of a carefully orchestrated conspiracy involving Siya and Chetan.
How Ketan Returned to Lohagad
According to Ketan’s family, he was hesitant to revisit the fort after the June 14 incident. They claim Siya repeatedly persuaded him to accompany her again, saying she wanted to celebrate her birthday there with friends.
Relatives further allege that Siya contacted Ketan’s mother and asked her to convince him to join the outing. Eventually, Ketan agreed. Family members said he was already planning a special birthday celebration for Siya on June 20 and had arranged a trip to Mahabaleshwar.
Investigators now believe the June 18 visit provided the opportunity to execute a plan that had allegedly begun days earlier.
Alleged First Attempt Failed
Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, stated that the accused admitted during interrogation that an earlier plan to kill his son on June 14 had failed.
He said the family initially accepted Siya’s explanation that Ketan had accidentally slipped. However, her behaviour and statements later raised suspicions, leading them to believe his death was not accidental.
According to Vishal Agarwal, both accused allegedly confessed after their arrest and admitted that they had conspired to kill Ketan. He also claimed they acknowledged an unsuccessful attempt on June 14 before carrying out the alleged crime on June 18.
He further alleged that other members of Siya’s family may have known about the plot and called for a thorough investigation into anyone potentially involved.
Claims of a Troubled Relationship
Family members said Siya had taken Ketan to Lohagad Fort several times before the incident. They alleged that the relationship between the couple was strained, yet Siya continued encouraging him to accompany her on visits to the fort.
Ketan’s uncle, Vijay Agarwal, demanded the harshest punishment for the accused and became emotional while appealing for justice.
Investigation and Arrests
Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill said that Siya and Ketan, who were engaged, visited Lohagad Fort on June 18. After Ketan’s fall, Siya informed authorities that he had slipped and died.
Police initially recorded the case as an accidental death. However, further inquiries and information gathered from relatives and friends led investigators to question that explanation, especially because Ketan was known as an experienced trekker.
According to police, confidential information, witness statements and technical evidence eventually pointed toward a conspiracy involving Siya and Chetan. Investigators allege that the pair, who had known each other for about a year, planned Ketan’s death and pushed him into the gorge.
A murder case was subsequently registered at Lonavala Rural Police Station, and both accused were arrested.
Suspicion Deepened After a Family Visit
A significant development in the investigation came four days after Ketan’s funeral, when Siya visited his family home.
During the visit, Ketan’s sister questioned her and reportedly found some of her responses unusual. The interaction increased the family’s suspicions and prompted further scrutiny.
Investigators later discovered extensive communication between Siya and Chetan. According to police, they exchanged 2,004 calls between January and June and spent a total of 238 hours talking over six months.
Police also found that Chetan’s internet connection remained switched off from 7 am to 5:40 pm on June 18. Investigators suspect he intentionally left his own phone at his shop to avoid location tracking and travelled to Lohagad carrying an employee’s phone instead.
When officers contacted people who had called Chetan’s number that day, they reportedly learned that shop employees—not Chetan—had answered the calls.
Police believe this digital evidence, along with other findings, helped establish his alleged involvement in the crime.
Wedding Plans Turned Into Mourning
The allegations have devastated Ketan’s family, who had been preparing for his wedding later this year.
According to relatives, the couple had a ceremony on February 11 followed by a formal engagement on February 19, with their wedding scheduled for November 25. A palace in Jaipur had already been booked, and arrangements were being made for chartered flights to transport guests.
Ketan had also planned a birthday celebration for Siya and organised a trip to Mahabaleshwar.
Instead of preparing for a wedding, the family is now mourning the loss of a young businessman whose death has become the subject of one of Maharashtra’s most shocking alleged murder conspiracies. Investigators continue to examine the evidence and reconstruct the events surrounding the case.
