What was expected to be one of the most extravagant weddings of the year has instead turned into one of Maharashtra's most closely watched criminal investigations. Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, who was engaged to Siya Goyal earlier this year, died at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on June 18 in what was initially believed to be an accidental fall. Days later, investigators alleged that the death was the outcome of a planned conspiracy involving Siya and her alleged boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary. The case has since drawn nationwide attention as fresh details emerge about the lavish wedding plans, the accused's alleged relationship and the police investigation.
Grand wedding plans came to an abrupt end
According to the Hindustan Times, Ketan Agarwal, 25, and Siya Goyal, 20, got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry in November. Their families had reportedly planned an elaborate destination wedding at a luxury resort in Udaipur, with estimates suggesting the celebrations would have cost around ₹14 crore. Other reports claimed the total expenditure could have reached ₹17 crore, with private aircraft arranged for guests and premium hospitality planned throughout the event.
Siya's mother, Pooja Goyal, confirmed that preparations were already underway. According to her, the family had booked Ananta Resort in Udaipur for nearly ₹3 crore and intended to spend close to ₹5 crore on the wedding festivities. The arrangements reflected the financial stature of both families and indicated that the marriage plans had progressed significantly before tragedy struck.
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Police probe shifts focus to alleged conspiracy
According to the Hindustan Times, the investigation took a dramatic turn after police examined CCTV footage, call records and digital evidence. Officers allege that Siya and Chetan were in a relationship despite her engagement to Ketan and may have planned the killing to avoid the marriage.
Investigators claim the duo exchanged more than 2,000 phone calls between January and June, speaking for nearly 238 hours. Police are also analysing chat messages and other electronic evidence to determine whether the alleged relationship played a direct role in the suspected conspiracy.
Authorities believe the accused may have attempted to stage the incident as an accidental fall during a trek at Lohagad Fort. CCTV footage reportedly showing Chetan wearing a hoodie despite high summer temperatures became one of the early clues that prompted investigators to dig deeper into the case.
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Motive remains under investigation
According to the Hindustan Times, while police have not concluded, several possible motives are being examined. Investigators are looking into claims that Siya was reluctant to proceed with the marriage but felt unable to call off the engagement because of family expectations and social pressure. Reports suggesting she was unhappy with aspects of Ketan's appearance have also surfaced, though officials have not confirmed any single motive.
Ketan's father, Vishal Agarwal, has also questioned Siya's conduct following his son's death, claiming her behaviour appeared unusually calm while the family was grieving.
Police continue to analyse forensic evidence, witness statements, phone records and CCTV footage as they work to establish the exact sequence of events. The case remains under investigation, with authorities expected to file additional findings as the probe progresses.
