Pune woman who pushed fiancé off fort had made similar attempt 4 days earlier

Police are now examining allegations that Ketan Agarwal survived a first attempt on his life at Lohagad Fort on June 14 before returning to the same spot on June 18, where investigators allege he was pushed to his death.

In Short

• Family said Siya's later responses at home raised fresh doubts
• Police traced 2,004 calls between Siya Goel and Chetan Chaudhary
• Investigators said Ketan was an experienced trekker, deepening suspicion around events

Four days before he died after falling into a gorge at Maharashtra's Lohagad Fort, 25-year-old Ketan Agarwal had allegedly survived an earlier attempt on his life at the very same location.

According to allegations made by Ketan's family, his fiancee, 20-year-old Siya Goel, pushed him near the edge of the historic hill fort during a visit on June 14. A tree reportedly broke his fall, preventing a fatal outcome.

The family alleges that Siya later claimed she had seen a snake near the edge of the fort and had pushed Ketan in an attempt to save him from being bitten.

Ketan returned to Lohagad on June 18.

This time, police allege, Siya was accompanied by her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary. Investigators claim the two pushed Ketan into a gorge, killing him.

What was initially reported as an accidental fall at Lohagad Fort near Pune has now turned into a murder investigation, with Pune Rural Police alleging that Ketan's death was the result of a carefully planned conspiracy involving the engaged woman and her alleged lover.

HOW KETAN WAS LURED BACK TO THE FORT

According to Ketan's family, he was initially reluctant to return to Lohagad after the June 14 visit.

Family members alleged that Siya repeatedly persuaded him to accompany her to the fort again, telling him she wanted to celebrate her birthday with friends.

Relatives further claimed that Siya even called Ketan's mother and requested her to convince him to join the outing.

Ketan eventually agreed.

According to the family, he had planned a special celebration for Siya's birthday on June 20 and had also made arrangements for a trip to Mahabaleshwar.

Police now believe the June 18 visit gave the accused an opportunity to execute a murder plan that investigators say had already been set in motion days earlier.

POLICE CLAIM PREVIOUS ATTEMPT FAILED

According to Ketan's father, Vishal Agarwal, the accused admitted during interrogation that they had first planned to kill his son on June 14 but failed.

"On June 18, my 26-year-old son fell from Lohagad Fort and passed away. Initially, we believed it was an accidental slip, just as Siya Goel had told us. However, her statements and suspicious behaviour later made us realise that this was not a simple accident," he said.

"Both Siya Goel and her accomplice have confessed to the murder after their arrest and admitted that they had conspired and planned to kill him. They also revealed that they had initially planned to murder him on June 14 but failed, after which they took him back to the fort on June 18 to execute the crime," he added.

Vishal Agarwal also alleged that other members of Siya's family may have been aware of the plot and demanded that all those involved be brought to justice.

FAMILY CLAIMS RELATIONSHIP WAS STRAINED

Ketan's relatives claimed that Siya had taken him to Lohagad Fort multiple times before the incident.

According to the family, the relationship between the two was not particularly smooth. They alleged that despite this, Siya repeatedly insisted that Ketan accompany her to Lohagad and continued persuading him to visit the fort.

Ketan's uncle Vijay Agarwal, while demanding the death penalty for both accused, said the family wanted the strictest punishment possible.

As he appealed for justice, he broke down in tears.

HOW THE CASE UNFOLDED

Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill said Siya Goel and Ketan Agarwal, who were engaged, visited Lohagad Fort on June 18.

"Siya Goel called to report that Ketan Agarwal had slipped and fallen from the fort, resulting in his death," Gill said.

Police initially treated the case as an accidental death. However, questions began to emerge during the inquiry.

"Subsequent inquiries and information gathered from relatives and friends raised suspicions. It seemed unlikely for such an accident to occur spontaneously, especially given that Ketan was an experienced trekker," the officer said.

According to police, confidential inputs, witness accounts and technical evidence later pointed towards a conspiracy involving Siya Goel and Chetan Chaudhary.

"The two had known each other for about a year. They conspired to execute this plan. At Lohagad Fort, they pushed Ketan Agarwal, causing him to fall to his death," Gill said.

Police have registered a murder case at Lonavala Rural Police Station and arrested both accused. Further investigation is underway.

SUSPICIONS GREW AFTER VISIT TO FAMILY HOME

Investigators were led towards fresh lines of inquiry after Siya visited Ketan's house four days after his funeral.

During the visit, Ketan's sister questioned her and reportedly found some of her responses unusual. The interaction raised doubts within the family and prompted further scrutiny.

Police later uncovered extensive communication between Siya and Chetan.

According to the investigation, the two exchanged 2,004 calls between January 1 and June and spoke for a combined 238 hours over six months.

Investigators also found that Chetan's internet connection remained switched off from 7 am until 5.40 pm on June 18.

Police suspect he deliberately left his own phone at his shop to avoid location tracking and travelled to Lohagad carrying an employee's phone instead.

During the probe, officers contacted people who had called Chetan's phone that day. Those callers reportedly confirmed that workers at his shop, and not Chetan himself, answered the calls.

Police believe the digital trail and other evidence helped establish his presence and involvement in the alleged crime.

WEDDING PREPARATIONS ENDED IN TRAGEDY

The murder allegations have shocked Ketan's family, who were preparing for his wedding later this year.

Family members said Ketan and Siya had a ceremony on February 11 and a formal engagement on February 19. Their wedding was scheduled for November 25.

Preparations for the celebration had already begun. According to relatives, a palace in Jaipur had been booked for the wedding and arrangements had been made for two chartered aircraft to transport guests.

Ketan had also planned a special celebration for Siya's birthday on June 19 and had reportedly made arrangements for a trip to Mahabaleshwar.

Instead of celebrating an upcoming marriage, the family is now mourning a young businessman whose future was cut short.

Ketan, the son of prominent builder Vishal Agarwal, leaves behind a family still searching for answers as investigators continue to reconstruct the events that transformed what first appeared to be a trekking accident into one of Maharashtra's most shocking alleged murder conspiracies.

- Ends
With inputs from Krishna Panchal and PTI.