Pune Fort Murder: Accused's Brother Reveals Family's Ignorance of Dislike

The sensational Lohagad Fort murder case, which saw Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal, 25, allegedly pushed to his death from the fort on June 18, 2026, has brought to light intricate details of a meticulously planned crime. At the heart of the investigation are Ketan's fiancée, Siya Goyal, 20, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, 22, both of whom have been arrested and accused of his murder. One of the significant developments in the ongoing probe came from the questioning of Siya Goyal's brother, Sahil Goyal. In a statement widely reported by various news outlets, including NDTV, Sahil reportedly told investigators that if Siya had expressed her dislike for Ketan, her family would have called off the wedding. This statement underscores the family's alleged unawareness of Siya's deeper dissatisfaction or her relationship with Chetan Chaudhary, even though some reports suggest Sahil himself was aware of Siya's relationship with Chetan and had advised her to end it. He reportedly stated that the family would have sought a resolution, possibly considering a different match, rather than letting the situation escalate to such a tragic point. The motive behind Ketan Agarwal's alleged murder appears to be Siya Goyal's unwillingness to marry him, coupled with her ongoing romantic involvement with Chetan Chaudhary. Police allege that Siya found it "easier to kill" Ketan rather than confronting her family and calling off the November wedding, primarily due to fears of social stigma and embarrassment. Some reports even indicated that Siya had expressed dislike for Ketan's personality, citing that he was bald, wore a wig, and stammered. Investigators have painted a picture of a calculated and premeditated murder plot. According to police, Siya and Chetan allegedly engaged in extensive planning, which included scouting Lohagad Fort to identify vulnerable spots, conducting online searches for ways to commit murder, and even a failed attempt on Ketan's life days before the fatal incident. The accused reportedly exchanged over 2,000 phone calls over six months, totaling approximately 238 hours of conversation, which police believe was part of their conspiracy. Digital evidence suggests they attempted to destroy call records, WhatsApp chats, and other data from their mobile phones. Chetan Chaudhary allegedly used a scooter to travel to the fort to avoid toll records, and even changed his appearance to evade identification. A chilling detail revealed in the investigation is the alleged use of a pre-decided signal—Siya sitting down, possibly pretending to tie shoelaces or drink water—to signal Chetan to push Ketan, while simultaneously ensuring her own safety. Furthermore, it is alleged that Siya deliberately sabotaged a planned pre-wedding trip to Bali by stealing, tearing, and burning Ketan's passport. The legal proceedings are moving forward with the appointment of senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case, a move requested by Ketan Agarwal's family and approved by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A fast-track court has also been constituted to ensure speedy justice. Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary were initially in police custody, where they reportedly blamed each other, before being sent to 14-day judicial custody by a Pune court on July 3, 2026. Police have recreated the crime scene at Lohagad Fort with both accused separately, using mannequins to verify the sequence of events. The case has garnered significant national attention in India, leading to calls for justice from Ketan Agarwal's family, who have even written to President Droupadi Murmu for a fast-track probe. The tragic incident has prompted social introspection on issues of arranged marriages, personal autonomy, and criminal intent within educated young individuals from seemingly well-to-do families.

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