Pune: What began as a planned wedding between two families in Pune has now spiralled into a chilling murder investigation involving alleged betrayal, deception, and a meticulously planned conspiracy. A 26-year-old businessman, Ketan Vishal Agarwal, died after falling nearly 400 feet into a gorge at Lohagad Fort on June 18, 2026. What initially appeared to be a tragic trekking accident has now been reclassified by police as a premeditated killing. His fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her alleged partner, Chetan Babulal Chaudhary, have been arrested for murder and criminal conspiracy after investigators uncovered a web of digital evidence, suspicious behaviour, and alleged prior attempts to kill the victim.
A Picture-Perfect Engagement That Hid Deep Contradictions
Ketan Vishal Agarwal, a resident of Gahunje in Pune district, was a young director in his family-run real estate business. At 26, he was described by relatives as responsible, ambitious, and well-regarded. His engagement to Siya Goyal in February 2026 appeared to be a conventional arranged match that both families supported. The wedding was planned on a grand scale. The Agarwal family had booked a palace in Udaipur for November 2026, arranged two chartered aircraft for guests, and reserved 40 luxury rooms in Mahabaleshwar for Siya’s birthday celebration on June 20. Ketan’s mother later told investigators she had spent time shopping and dining with Siya and never suspected anything unusual.
Pune, Maharashtra
Update on Ketan Vishal Agarwal murder case
> Police said that Ketan Vishal Agarwal was deleted by his girlfriend, Siya Goyal, and her lover, Chetan Chaudhary.
> Siya was in a relationship with a man named Chetan Chaudhary.
> She did not want to marry Ketan.
>… pic.twitter.com/Twk78IKDap— ︎ ︎venom (@venom1s) June 23, 2026
Yet behind this outward normalcy, police now allege Siya was already in a long-term relationship with Chetan Babulal Chaudhary, a 22-year-old shopkeeper from Kondhwa, Pune.
A Parallel Relationship and 2,004 Phone Calls
Investigators revealed that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary had been in frequent contact for months. Between January 1 and June 18, the two allegedly exchanged 2,004 phone calls, totalling approximately 238 hours of conversation. Police believe that during this period, Siya’s unwillingness to proceed with the arranged marriage led to discussions between the two about eliminating Ketan rather than cancelling the wedding.
The Bali Trip That Never Happened: A Suspicious Passport Incident
One of the earliest red flags in the investigation involves a planned international trip to Bali after the engagement. Ketan and Siya had planned to travel abroad with two others. However, on the day of departure, Ketan discovered his passport was missing, forcing him to abandon the trip at Mumbai airport. His family later questioned how only his passport had gone missing.
Investigators now believe Siya may have deliberately taken and disposed of the passport to prevent the trip, allegedly because an overseas holiday would have disrupted the planned execution of the crime at a controlled domestic location.
Lohagad Fort Visit: The Alleged Origin of the Plan
On May 31, Ketan and Siya visited Lohagad Fort for a trek. Police believe this visit played a critical role in shaping the alleged conspiracy. The steep cliffs and isolated terrain of the fort, with drops of nearly 400 feet, allegedly made it an ideal location for staging a fatal “accident.” Investigators suspect that during this visit, Siya first identified the location as suitable for what would later become the alleged murder site.
First Alleged Attempt: June 14
Police say the first attempt to kill Ketan occurred on June 14, when Siya and Ketan returned to Lohagad Fort, allegedly accompanied in coordination with Chetan Chaudhary. The plan, according to investigators, involved staging a sudden panic by pretending to spot a snake near a dangerous edge of the fort. The idea was to provoke fear and cause Ketan to lose balance and fall. However, the attempt reportedly failed as Ketan did not react as expected and remained stable, avoiding the edge.
The Second Setup: A Birthday Lure
Following the failed attempt, Siya allegedly devised another plan using her upcoming birthday as a pretext. She told Ketan she wanted to celebrate her birthday on June 19 at Lohagad Fort. The plan was framed as a picnic and group outing. She also informed friends and family, creating the appearance of a genuine celebration. Despite already having arranged a lavish birthday celebration in Mahabaleshwar, Ketan agreed.
June 18: The Day of the Death
On June 18, 2026, the group reportedly arrived once again at Lohagad Fort. According to police allegations, Chetan Chaudhary took several deliberate steps to avoid being tracked, including switching off his internet connection between 7 a.m. and 5:40 p.m., leaving his personal mobile phone at his shop, using another phone belonging to an employee, and arriving separately at the location on a two-wheeler. Investigators say he later joined Siya Goyal and Ketan Vishal Agarwal at a secluded spot near the gorge. As per the victim’s father’s complaint, Ketan was allegedly struck with an object before being pushed or thrown into the deep valley, falling nearly 400 feet and dying instantly.
The False Accident Call and Body Recovery
Immediately after the incident, Siya reportedly contacted the Lonavala rural police, claiming Ketan had slipped due to strong winds while taking photographs. Police initially registered an accidental death report. On June 19, rescue teams recovered Ketan’s body from the gorge in a difficult operation involving local police and forest protection volunteers. He was later declared dead at a hospital.
The Instagram Story That Raised Eyebrows
Following Ketan’s death, Siya posted an emotional Instagram story questioning why he had “left her” and expressing grief and confusion. The post included romantic videos and messages suggesting emotional distress. Police later seized screenshots of this post as part of the investigation, citing it as inconsistent with other evidence gathered.
The Ketan Agrawal murder case has taken an even more chilling turn as his father Vishal Agrawal revealed in a video that his son's death was a pre-planned conspiracy and not an accident. He alleged that Siya Goyal's parents, brother, and aunt were also involved in the murder… pic.twitter.com/HY98vnrFoU
— Pune Mirror (@ThePuneMirror) June 23, 2026
The case shifted from accidental death to murder after several developments raised serious suspicions among investigators and the victim’s family. These included reported unusual behaviour from Ketan’s family members, Siya Goyal’s alleged lack of visible emotional response as noted by relatives, and digital evidence indicating extensive communication between Siya and Chetan Chaudhary.
Call records further revealed around 2,004 contacts between the two over a six-month period. In addition, technical data reportedly pointed to Chetan’s unusual phone usage patterns and efforts to conceal his location. Investigators also noted contradictions in the initial statements given about the incident. Further intensifying suspicion, Siya is said to have visited Ketan’s family home four days after the funeral, an action that raised additional doubts among relatives and prompted deeper scrutiny of the case.
Chetan Chaudhary was detained first during a late-night operation. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to involvement in the conspiracy. Based on his statement, Siya Goyal was arrested shortly afterwards. Both have been charged with murder and criminal conspiracy and remanded to seven days of police custody by a Pune district court.
Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, expressed shock and grief, stating that the wedding could have been cancelled if Siya had simply refused the marriage. He called for strict punishment and a fast-tracked trial, saying the act reflected “a cruel mindset.” Ketan’s mother also demanded the death penalty, stating she never suspected any wrongdoing despite spending time with Siya.
Police have stated that the investigation is still ongoing. Forensic analysis, digital reconstruction, and additional witness statements are being collected to confirm the exact sequence of events and determine whether any other individuals were involved. Authorities are continuing to build the case around what they describe as a premeditated conspiracy that turned a scenic fort into the scene of a tragic and alleged betrayal-driven killing.
