A significant new motive has emerged in the alleged murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agrawal, with police now investigating whether his fiancée, Siya Goyal, was deeply reluctant to marry him and faced considerable family pressure to proceed with the wedding. This alleged unwillingness, coupled with her suspected relationship with another man, Chetan Chaudhary, is now considered central to the tragic events that unfolded at Lohagad Fort.

Ketan Agrawal died on June 18 after falling into a gorge at the historic fort. Initially reported as an accidental fall, the investigation quickly shifted to a murder probe. Police allege that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary conspired to push Agrawal off the cliff. Both have been arrested and are currently remanded to police custody until June 29, as authorities piece together the complex narrative.

"The accused was apparently not mentally prepared for marriage and was under pressure from her family to accept the proposal," a senior police officer told ANI, highlighting the evolving understanding of the case. This revelation paints a picture of internal conflict and external pressure that investigators believe may have driven the alleged plot. The couple was reportedly set to marry in November, with families having made elaborate arrangements, including booking a palace in Rajasthan and arranging private aircraft for guests.

The initial report filed by Siya Goyal claimed Ketan slipped while taking photographs near the fort’s edge amidst strong winds. However, investigators from the Pune Rural Police found inconsistencies in her account. Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill confirmed that officers examined multiple angles, including financial disputes and personal relationships, before focusing on Siya’s alleged relationship with Chaudhary, a resident of Kondhwa in Pune.

Investigators believe Siya Goyal met Chetan Chaudhary at a Diwali party last year, and their contact developed over subsequent months. As her wedding to Ketan Agrawal approached, police suspect she began to view Ketan as an obstacle to her burgeoning relationship with Chaudhary. Digital evidence and questioning of the accused reportedly point towards a growing bond between Siya and Chaudhary, alongside discussions about removing Ketan from the picture. Police sources indicate Siya desired more time for herself and was unwilling to proceed with the marriage despite familial insistence.

The investigation has also uncovered suspicions of an earlier attempt on Ketan Agrawal’s life, just four days before his death. Police are probing whether Siya and Ketan visited Lohagad Fort on June 14, going to the same location from which he later fell. Ketan’s father, Vishal Agrawal, alleged his son narrowly escaped that day, managing to save himself by holding onto nearby bushes. He claimed Siya then raised a false alarm about a snake, asserting she pushed him only to protect him. Vishal Agrawal now believes this was a prior attempt on his son’s life. Furthermore, police are examining a visit on May 31, where Siya allegedly noticed Ketan sitting near a vulnerable edge, raising questions about a potential pattern of planning.

Police claim the alleged conspiracy culminated on June 18. Investigators suggest Chaudhary arrived at Lohagad Fort before the couple and subsequently followed them to an isolated spot. "Our investigation found that Chaudhary had reached the fort before the couple arrived. He subsequently followed them to an isolated spot, where he and Siya allegedly pushed Ketan Agarwal into the valley, resulting in his death," Superintendent Gill stated. Prior to the fatal trek, Siya and Chaudhary allegedly met at a cafe to discuss their plan. The duo is accused of pushing Ketan into a gorge nearly 400 feet deep, then attempting to portray his death as an accident.

Ketan’s father, Vishal Agrawal, has also voiced suspicions regarding Siya’s actions leading up to his son’s death. He alleged that Siya sabotaged a planned pre-wedding trip to Bali. According to his account, Ketan’s passport went missing from a pouch while they were en route to Mumbai airport, forcing the cancellation of the trip. Vishal Agrawal claimed this was not accidental and questioned if it was part of a larger plan to avoid the marriage. He further stated that after the Bali trip was cancelled, Siya insisted they go to Lohagad Fort. He also noted Siya’s lack of emotional reaction upon seeing his son’s body, which he found suspicious.

Following a complaint from Ketan’s father, Lonavala Rural Police registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation is ongoing, with police continuing to collect forensic evidence, examine digital records, and establish the precise sequence of events. Authorities are also looking into the possibility of other individuals being involved in the alleged conspiracy. The allegations against Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary remain subject to thorough investigation and judicial scrutiny, as the legal process unfolds to determine the full truth behind Ketan Agrawal’s death.