Lohagad Fort Murder: Accused Lovers Blame Each Other in Pune Case

The high-profile Lohagad Fort murder case, involving the alleged killing of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, has taken a dramatic turn as the two primary accused, his fiancée Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, are reportedly blaming each other during custodial interrogation. Ketan Agarwal, a 26-year-old real estate director, died on June 18 after allegedly being pushed nearly 400 feet into a gorge at Lohagad Fort, near Lonavala. Initially believed to be an accidental fall, police reclassified the case as a premeditated murder after suspicions arose. Police investigations have revealed a sinister plot allegedly hatched by Goyal, 20, and Chaudhary, 22. According to the Pune Rural Police, Goyal was unhappy with her arranged marriage to Agarwal and was in a relationship with Chaudhary. This alleged reluctance to marry Agarwal and her desire to be with Chaudhary is believed to be the primary motive behind the murder. Evidence suggesting this includes an alleged Snapchat message from Goyal to a friend in May, stating the wedding was unlikely to happen despite preparations. The conspiracy, as pieced together by investigators, involved meticulous planning. Police found that Goyal and Chaudhary had been in constant communication for approximately six months prior to the murder, exchanging over 2,000 phone calls totaling 238 hours. On the day of the incident, June 18, Goyal allegedly used a pre-arranged signal – sitting down near the cliff edge, either to drink water or tie her shoelaces – to alert Chaudhary to push Agarwal. This signal was reportedly chosen not only to trigger the act but also to ensure Goyal remained out of Agarwal's reach during the fall, preventing her from being pulled into the gorge with him. Furthermore, the investigation uncovered details of Chaudhary's attempts to evade detection. He reportedly traveled nearly 90 kilometers from Pune to Lohagad Fort on a scooter instead of a car to avoid toll plaza surveillance. He also allegedly changed his appearance at the fort, wearing a hoodie on arrival, removing it before the incident, and putting it back on while leaving. Police have also claimed that the duo had rehearsed the murder on another hill near Market Yard before executing the plan at Lohagad Fort. Earlier attempts to kill Agarwal were also revealed during the probe. Investigators suspect Goyal had previously attempted to push Agarwal from the fort on May 31 and again on June 14, but failed. On one occasion, she allegedly told Agarwal she pushed him because she spotted a snake. Goyal and Chaudhary were arrested on June 23. They were subsequently remanded to police custody and later to judicial custody, which was recently extended until July 29. During their interrogation, conflicting statements emerged, with Goyal allegedly claiming Chaudhary planned the murder, while Chaudhary reportedly stated Goyal pressured him into committing the crime. However, police officials indicate that the evidence collected so far points towards Goyal as the alleged mastermind behind the conspiracy. The case has garnered significant public attention. Ketan Agarwal's family has been actively seeking justice, with his father, Vishal Agarwal, writing to President Droupadi Murmu and his mother, Rakhi Agarwal, appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a speedy investigation and fast-track trial. The family also suffered another tragedy with the passing of Ketan's grandfather, Devichand Agarwal, who reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and whose health deteriorated after his grandson's death. The Maharashtra government has approved a fast-track court for the case and appointed senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as the Special Public Prosecutor. The continuous flow of updates, including a friend of Chetan Chaudhary claiming he advised them against the murder, and Goyal showing a middle finger to media personnel, keep the case in the public eye. The police continue their investigation, including verifying if Goyal and Chaudhary secretly married in Rajasthan.

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