Pune Businessman’s Fatal Fall from Lohagad Fort Turns Out to Be Murder; Fiancée, Accomplice Arrested

Pune: A police investigation into the death of a 26-year-old businessman at Lohagad Fort has shifted from an accidental fall to a murder case with new evidence coming to light.

The victim, Ketan Vishal Agarwal, was a resident of Gahunje and a director in his family's real estate firm. He died after falling nearly 400 feet from a cliff at the fort in Maval tehsil.

Following an analysis of phone records and statements, the Lonavala Rural police have arrested Agarwal’s 20-year-old fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her 22-year-old associate, Chetan Chaudhary, for allegedly pushing him off the cliff.

The Initial Report

Agarwal had gone to the fort with his fiancée and friends to celebrate her birthday. Initial accounts provided to the police stated that around 10:30 AM, Agarwal lost his balance near a cliff edge due to strong winds while taking photos.

A three-hour recovery operation was conducted by the Lonavala Rural police and the Shivdurg Mitra Emergency Rescue Team to retrieve his body from the valley. The police initially registered the incident as an accidental death.

Investigation Reveals a Dispute

The couple was scheduled to get married in November. However, investigators grew suspicious when Goyal’s statements did not match the timeline of events.

A review of phone records revealed that Goyal was in a relationship with Chaudhary for over a year and did not want to go through with the impending nuptials. Police state that Goyal and Chaudhary had previously attempted to disrupt the wedding plans, including an instance where they misplaced a passport to cancel a pre-wedding trip.

According to investigators, Chaudhary met the couple at the fort, where he and Goyal allegedly pushed Agarwal over the edge before reporting it as a slip-and-fall accident. Both suspects have been detained, and the police have charged them with murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Family Demands Strictest Punishment

Speaking on the tragedy, Ketan’s father questioned the motive behind the crime, noting that the family would have called off the wedding if Goyal had expressed her unwillingness to marry.

"If she didn’t want to get married, she could have simply refused; we would have cancelled the wedding immediately. Why did they decide to take such a drastic step?" his father said. "Their mindset is so cruel that someone’s 26-year-old son could be killed. Society needs to take note of such a cruel mindset." He appealed to the government to fast-track the case to ensure the accused are punished quickly.

Ketan's mother expressed shock over the betrayal, stating that Goyal had shown no signs of resentment during frequent family interactions. "My son is no more. Siya and her boyfriend are entirely responsible for it. She betrayed me and lied. I met her many times, and we went shopping and out for dinner together frequently, yet it never crossed our minds that she could be this kind of person. I demand the death penalty for those involved in the incident," she said.

The family credited the local police, particularly Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill, for resolving the case swiftly. Chaudhary was arrested on Monday night, followed by Goyal on Tuesday morning. Both suspects have been produced in court, and the police have charged them with murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

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