Pune woman, her lover accused of pushing fiancé off Lohagad Fort to stop wedding; sent to custody till June 29

What began as a tragic fall at Maharashtra's Lohagad Fort has now turned into a chilling murder investigation, with police alleging that a young businessman was killed by his fiancée and her alleged lover just months before their lavish wedding.

Twenty-six-year-old Ketan Agarwal, a resident of Gahunje in Pune district and director of a family-run real estate business, died on June 18 after falling nearly 400 feet into a gorge near Lohagad Fort. Initially treated as an accident, the case took a dramatic turn when investigators uncovered what they believe was a pre-planned conspiracy involving Ketan's fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary.

Adding another layer to the case are explosive allegations made by Ketan's father, Vishal Agarwal, who claims that his son survived an earlier attempt on his life at the same fort just four days before his death.

Father's Claim of an Earlier Murder Attempt

According to Vishal Agarwal, Siya allegedly attempted to kill Ketan on June 14 during a visit to Lohagad Fort.

He claimed that Siya and Ketan had gone to the fort alone when she allegedly pushed him from a dangerous spot. However, Ketan survived by grabbing hold of a bush.

"On June 14, they both went to the fort alone, and Siya pushed Ketan. After the push, Ketan grabbed a bush and escaped. Fearing the secret would be revealed, Siya shouted 'snake, snake'," Vishal Agarwal alleged.

He further claimed that Ketan realised he had been pushed only after regaining his composure following the fall.

"After being pushed, Ketan slipped backwards and escaped by grabbing hold of a bush. He then began to regain consciousness, realising that he had been pushed and that he had survived. Siya immediately shouted, 'snake, snake' and went and hugged him," he said.

The allegation has become one of several aspects now being examined by investigators.

The Missing Passport Mystery

Vishal Agarwal also pointed to another incident that he believes was suspicious.

According to him, Ketan and Siya were scheduled to travel to Bali before their wedding. Four people were expected to travel together, but Ketan's passport allegedly went missing at the airport.

"When they arrived at the airport, everyone's passports were there, but Ketan's passport was missing. It seemed as if it had fallen somewhere. They tried to search for it, but the passport was nowhere to be found. Therefore, they returned," he said.

The trip was cancelled and the group returned home. Vishal Agarwal claimed that shortly after returning, Siya again insisted on visiting Lohagad Fort.

"After returning, on the third or fourth day, she quarrelled with him again, arguing that they had to go to Lohagad Fort," he alleged.

The Fatal Birthday Outing

According to police, Ketan and Siya travelled to Lohagad Fort on June 18. The outing was reportedly planned to celebrate Siya's birthday.

Lohagad Fort, located near Lonavala, is one of Maharashtra's most visited hill forts. Associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha Empire, it is among the 12 forts in Maharashtra recognised as part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Following the incident, Siya informed police that Ketan had accidentally slipped and fallen into the valley while the couple was taking photographs amid strong winds. Based on her statement, police initially registered an accidental death report.

A rescue team later retrieved Ketan's body after a lengthy operation in the deep gorge.

Investigation Raises Questions

As investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding the death, several inconsistencies emerged.

Lonavala Rural Police analysed mobile phone records, call data, technical evidence and witness statements. Officers also spoke to relatives and friends, whose statements reportedly raised doubts about the accident theory.

According to Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill, Ketan's family found it difficult to believe that the fall was accidental, particularly because he was an experienced trekker.

"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 family expressed doubts, and a formal complaint was lodged based on these suspicions," Gill said.

The investigation eventually focused on 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary, a businessman from Pune's Kondhwa area who runs a dry fruits manufacturing business. Siya, meanwhile, operated her own bakery.

Police found that Siya and Chetan had known each other for about a year through business connections and were allegedly involved in a romantic relationship. Investigators believe Ketan had become an obstacle to that relationship.

Alleged Murder Conspiracy

According to police, Siya and Chetan conspired to eliminate Ketan and carefully planned the crime.

Investigators allege that Siya took Ketan to Lohagad Fort under the pretext of an outing while Chetan was called to the location later. Ketan's father has claimed that Chetan arrived at the fort on a two-wheeler.

Vishal Agarwal further alleged that the two accused assaulted his son before throwing him into the gorge.

"The two went up together, hit Ketan with an object and threw him down from the top," he claimed.

Gill said the investigation, including confidential sources, witness statements and technical evidence, pointed towards a conspiracy involving both accused.

"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," the police officer said.

The breakthrough reportedly came when local crime branch officers detained Chetan based on suspicion. During interrogation, he allegedly disclosed details of the plot, leading to Siya's arrest.

Following a complaint lodged by Ketan's father, police registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police said both accused were taken into custody and further investigation is underway.

Court Sends Accused to Custody

A Pune magistrate court on Tuesday remanded Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary to police custody till June 29.

Advocate Ram Shahane, who represented Chetan Chaudhary, said the defence opposed the police custody plea. However, the court granted investigators seven days to continue their probe into the case.

A Dream Wedding That Never Happened

The case has shocked both families because Ketan and Siya were preparing for what was expected to be a lavish wedding later this year.

The couple got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry in November. According to family sources, an extravagant celebration had already been planned in Rajasthan. A palace venue worth around Rs 17 crore had reportedly been booked, and arrangements were being made to fly guests using private aircraft.

Relatives described the wedding as a dream event that both families had been eagerly anticipating.

"The families were happy. This incident has come as a huge shock to both families," a relative said.

Father's Plea for Justice

Speaking after the arrests, Vishal Agarwal said that if Siya did not want to marry his son, she could simply have called off the wedding.

"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?" he said.

Questioning the mindset behind the alleged crime, he added, "Someone's 26-year-old son could be killed. Society needs to take note of such a cruel mindset."

He also urged authorities to ensure a speedy trial and strict punishment for the accused.

"My only appeal to the government is that this case be fast-tracked at any cost. The accused should be punished as quickly as possible. They deserve the strictest possible punishment to send a clear message to everyone," he said.

What was meant to be the beginning of a new chapter in Ketan Agarwal's life has instead become one of Maharashtra's most disturbing criminal cases. A death that was initially believed to be an accident is now being investigated as a carefully planned murder allegedly orchestrated by the very person he was preparing to marry. As police continue their investigation, the case has raised disturbing questions about betrayal, deception and the circumstances that led to the young businessman's death.