The investigation into the murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal has taken a new turn, with the two main accused, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary, now blaming each other. During questioning, both have tried to reduce their own role while saying the other person was behind the murder plan.
According to the police, Chetan said he wanted to run away with Siya and begin a new life, but claimed that Siya was the one who wanted Ketan out of the way. Siya, however, gave a different version. She told investigators that Chetan had planned the murder and even broke down after an earlier attempt to kill Ketan failed on 14th June.
Police say Siya has admitted that the two had fixed a signal before reaching Lohagad Fort. During the outing, she bent down to give the signal, after which Chetan pushed Ketan into the gorge. Investigators say the plan had been decided in advance.
The police also believe the two had visited the fort earlier to study the place and choose the exact spot. They say Siya and Chetan stayed in regular contact for months before the incident, making over 2,000 calls and talking for nearly 238 hours.
Family denies Chetan’s role
Chetan’s family has rejected the police’s claims and says he is innocent. His father, Babulal Chaudhary, said Chetan told the family that he was standing far from Ketan when the incident happened and did not push him. He claimed Siya was standing close to Ketan at that time. Chetan’s uncle, Udayram Chaudhary, also said he was being falsely implicated in the case.
Police reconstruct the conspiracy
Police say the murder was the result of a carefully planned conspiracy that ended with Ketan’s death at Lohagad Fort on the 18th of June. According to investigators, Siya and Chetan were in a relationship, while Siya’s marriage to Ketan was scheduled for later this year. They believe the pair had tried more than once before the final incident.
Investigators also say Ketan’s planned trip to Bali with Siya was cancelled after his passport went missing. Police are examining this as another part of the overall plan.
Background of the accused
Siya belongs to a business family from Pune’s Bibwewadi area. Neighbours told The Indian Express they were shocked by her arrest and said they had never heard of any disputes involving the family. They also found the family’s house locked after the arrests.
Police say Siya and Chetan first met through business connections. Siya was running a bakery business, while Chetan’s family was involved in the dry fruits trade. Their friendship later turned into a relationship.
According to investigators, Siya invited Ketan to Lohagad Fort on the pretext of celebrating her birthday, while Chetan reached the fort separately. Police believe the two acted together before Ketan fell into the gorge.
