Lohagad death mystery deepens: Police suspect earlier attempt on Ketan Agarwal's life

The death of 25-year-old Ketan Vishal Agarwal, a Pune-based real estate heir, has taken a darker turn after police said he was allegedly pushed to his death from a gorge near Lohagad Fort close to Lonavala on June 18.

The incident was first recorded as an accidental death, with Agarwal’s fiancée Siya Goyal telling police that he had slipped while taking photographs. Investigators later arrested Goyal and her friend Chetan Chaudhary on suspicion of murder and conspiracy.

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A curious tale from the fort's edge

Hindustan Times reported that police now believe the June 18 death may have followed an earlier attempt on Agarwal’s life at the same fort. Four days before he died, the couple had gone trekking to Lohagad, and investigators say Goyal allegedly pushed him then too, later claiming that she had seen a snake and was trying to protect him.

Police also said Goyal insisted on another trek on June 18, ahead of her birthday on June 19. Officials said call record data helped them establish that Chaudhary was present at Lohagad at the same time as Agarwal and Goyal.

A trail of details proves difficult to ignore

The investigation widened after police examined CCTV footage from the foothills and other forensic material.

One detail — a person seen wearing a hoodie and headphones despite the morning heat — raised suspicion because the clothing seemed unusual for the weather. Police later identified that person as Chaudhary.

Investigators also said he had left his mobile phone at his residence in Kondhwa instead of carrying it to the fort, a move that further drew attention during the probe. Both accused were later questioned and, according to police, eventually confessed during sustained interrogation.

Beneath the celebrations, quiet doubts lingered

Agarwal was the director of his family’s real estate firm, Success Group, and had returned to Pune in 2023 after completing a master’s degree from Babson College in the United States.

He became engaged to Goyal in February this year, with the wedding reportedly planned for November and hotel bookings already made in Udaipur. Police sources suggest that the families were expected to spend around ₹14 crore on the celebration.

Questions around the relationship had reportedly surfaced before the fatal trek. Agarwal’s family had become suspicious after an earlier Bali trip planned for a pre-wedding photoshoot was cancelled when his passport went missing at the airport.

Investigators later alleged that Goyal had hidden the passport to stop the trip. Agarwal’s father said his son had raised concerns about Goyal’s behavior and had also mentioned Chaudhary, prompting doubts within the family.

Goyal and Chaudhary face murder and conspiracy charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and both are currently in custody.

Also Read | Ketan Agarwal murder case: How a hoodie in 33C heat turned an accident probe into a murder investigation

FAQs

Q1: Who is Ketan Agarwal and what happened at Lohagad Fort?

Ans: Ketan Agarwal, a Pune-based real estate businessman, allegedly died after being pushed into a gorge near Lohagad Fort on June 18 in a case now being investigated as murder.

Q2: Why were Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary arrested?

Ans: Police arrested Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary after alleging they conspired to kill Agarwal, citing call records, CCTV footage and other forensic evidence.