The parents of Siya Goyal, who has been accused of murdering her fiancé Ketan Agarwal in Pune, have spoken publicly for the first time, claiming they were completely unaware of any alleged romantic involvement between their daughter and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary. They said Siya had repeatedly assured them that she liked Ketan, wanted to marry him, and was not involved with anyone else before the marriage was arranged.
In an interview with India Today TV, Siya’s mother, Pooja Goyal, admitted that Siya and Chetan knew each other through a cricket tournament but maintained that the family believed their association was merely a friendship. She said the family sought Siya’s approval numerous times before proceeding with the marriage proposal.
According to her, they repeatedly asked Siya whether she genuinely wanted to marry Ketan, and each time she responded positively, expressing her liking for him and denying any relationship with another person.
Pooja Goyal stated that at no point did Siya indicate any hesitation about the marriage or reveal that she was involved with someone else.
Ketan Agarwal, 26, died after falling into a gorge at Lohagad Fort near Pune in what was initially considered an accidental death. However, a subsequent police investigation alleged that Siya and Chetan had plotted to kill him by pushing him off the cliff during a trekking trip. Both have since been arrested.
Siya’s father, Praveen Goyal, also denied any knowledge of an alleged relationship between his daughter and Chetan. He said he had never met or spoken to Chetan before the case came to light and had no information suggesting any connection between the two.
Explaining how the marriage was arranged, Praveen Goyal said the proposal first emerged during a family wedding in Goa when relatives of Ketan’s family expressed interest in Siya. Since she was only 19 years old at the time, the family initially declined. The proposal resurfaced later at another wedding in Karjat, where relatives encouraged them to consider the match, describing the Agarwal family as respectable. Following discussions within the family, the marriage talks progressed and eventually led to an engagement ceremony in February.
Praveen Goyal recalled that Ketan had become very close to the family and often visited their home. He said Ketan addressed him as “Papa ji” and that he had come to regard him as his own son.
Addressing reports that Ketan had shared concerns with his father about Siya frequently being on the phone, Praveen Goyal said those concerns were never communicated to his family. He stated that if Ketan had any doubts, his family should have discussed them openly instead of remaining silent.
The parents also maintained that they never observed any problems between the couple. According to Pooja Goyal, Siya and Ketan appeared happy during their engagement period, regularly communicated through video calls, and continued making plans for their future together. She said Ketan frequently visited their home and preparations for their marriage continued without any sign of difficulty.
She added that the family had already begun preparing for the couple’s planned honeymoon trip to Bali and had spent around Rs 50,000 on shopping for Siya. She questioned why they would have continued making such arrangements if Siya had ever expressed opposition to the marriage.
Regarding the trekking trip to Lohagad Fort, the parents claimed it was Ketan’s idea. Pooja Goyal said Siya had initially been reluctant to participate because the couple planned to travel to Mahabaleshwar the following day. However, according to her, Ketan insisted that she join the trek. She further claimed that Ketan’s mother encouraged Siya to go, suggesting that Ketan might have planned a birthday surprise for her. Pooja said that messages on Siya’s phone would support this account.
Praveen Goyal described learning about his daughter’s arrest as a devastating shock. He said he found it difficult to believe that Siya could be involved in such a crime, adding that she had always been honest with him and had generally followed the right path. He also revealed that the emotional impact of the allegations led to his admission to an intensive care unit.
At the same time, he stated that if the accusations against his daughter are ultimately proven in court, she should face the strictest punishment under the law. He said justice should not be delayed if she is found guilty.
Police allege that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary conspired to kill Ketan Agarwal by pushing him into a gorge at Lohagad Fort on June 18. The investigation is ongoing, and both accused remain in judicial custody.
