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What began as a tragic accident at one of Maharashtra’s most popular heritage forts has unravelled into one of the most chilling premeditated murder cases India has seen in recent years.
Ketan Agarwal, a 26-year-old Pune-based businessman, fell to his death from the Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on June 18, 2026. His fiancée told police he slipped while clicking photos near the fort’s edge. But CCTV footage, phone records, and a painstaking police investigation have told a very different — and deeply disturbing — story.
The Victim
- Name: Ketan Agarwal
- Age: 26 years old
- Occupation: Businessman, Pune
- Date of death: June 18, 2026
- Location: Lohagad Fort, Lonavala, Maharashtra — a 400-foot-deep gorge
- Relationship status: Engaged to Siya Goyal, with wedding already planned
Ketan had been excited about his upcoming marriage. Friends and family describe him as a cheerful, ambitious young man who had no enemies. His death, initially, seemed like a tragic freak accident at a popular tourist site.
The Accused
| Name | Relationship to Ketan | Arrested |
|---|---|---|
| Siya Goyal | Fiancée / Accused conspirator | Yes — June 23, 2026 |
| Chetan Chaudhary | Siya’s secret lover / Accused killer | Yes — June 23, 2026 |
Both were remanded to 7 days of police custody by a Pune court on June 23, 2026.
The Investigation: How a “Tragic Accident” Became Murder
Police initially registered a case of accidental death. But within days, investigators grew deeply suspicious. Here is how the case unravelled, step by step:
🎥 Step 1: The Suspicious Man on CCTV
Reviewing CCTV footage from the fort’s ticket counter, investigators spotted a man in a hooded sweatshirt and headset following the couple through the fort.
The detail that caught the detective’s eye: it was 33°C that day. No normal tourist would be wearing a heavy hoodie in that heat.
That man, police allege, was Chetan Chaudhary — Siya’s secret lover — who had arrived at the fort independently, disguised, to execute the plan.
📱 Step 2: The 2,000 Calls
Forensic extraction of mobile phone data revealed the damning trail of an intimate conspiracy:
- Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary had exchanged more than 2,000 calls over the six months preceding the murder
- Total call duration: approximately 238 hours — nearly 10 full days of conversation
- The pattern of calls showed intensive coordination in the days before the visit to Lohagad Fort
⚠️ Step 3: This Was the Third Attempt
Perhaps the most shocking revelation: according to police sources, this was not the first time an attempt was made on Ketan Agarwal’s life. Police report that:
- A previous attempt had allegedly been made at the same Lohagad Fort in mid-June 2026, just days before the fatal visit
- Ketan had survived that first attempt — possibly escaping without realising it was deliberate
- The accused allegedly returned, better prepared, for the second visit on June 18
🤝 Step 4: The Confession
Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the conspiracy. However, investigators are still working to determine the precise sequence of events:
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- Did Siya deliver the final push?
- Or did Chetan (who police say was lurking nearby) shove Ketan from behind?
- Or was it a coordinated act by both?
Police say both have given varying versions, and forensic evidence is still being analysed to establish the exact mechanics of the crime.
The Motive: Love, Greed, or Both?
Police have outlined the following as the primary motive:
- Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary were in a romantic relationship and wanted to be together
- Siya was engaged to Ketan — an engagement that would have made leaving him socially and financially complicated
- The couple allegedly decided that eliminating Ketan was the only way to be together
- Reports also suggest that financial considerations — including Ketan’s business assets — may have played a role in the conspiracy
The 48-Minute CCTV Trail
Investigators painstakingly reconstructed a 48-minute window on the day of the murder using footage from multiple CCTV cameras across the fort’s access trail:
- Ketan and Siya arrive together at the fort entrance
- A separate individual (Chetan, in disguise) purchases a ticket and enters minutes later
- The three converge at the upper levels of the fort
- Ketan is last seen alive near the edge of the gorge
- Siya is seen alone, running toward the fort exit and calling for help
Public Reaction
The case has sparked intense national debate — particularly among young urban Indians — about the dark side of modern relationships. Television celebrity Aanchal Khurana (winner of Roadies 8) spoke for many when she reacted publicly:
“What is happening to this generation?”
The case has echoes of true-crime content that dominates streaming platforms, yet is starkly, horrifyingly real.
What Comes Next
- Ketan’s fiancée and her alleged lover remain in police custody as investigators collect further evidence
- A chargesheet is being prepared under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) covering murder and criminal conspiracy
- The case is expected to go to the Sessions Court in Pune for trial
- The family of Ketan Agarwal has demanded a speedy and transparent trial
Behind every viral crime story is a human being who did not deserve their fate. Ketan Agarwal was 26 years old, engaged to be married, and had his entire life ahead of him.
The full truth of what happened on that fort’s edge in June 2026 is still being established. But the evidence gathered so far tells a story of cold, calculated betrayal.
TrendPulse will continue to follow the Ketan Agarwal case as it progresses through the courts.
