The murder of the Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal uncovered a plot which police say involved his fiancée Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary. As the investigation continues, a court has remanded both suspects to police custody until July 3 so investigators can probe the case further.
According to Pune Rural Police, the alleged murder at Lohagad Fort on June 18 was far from spontaneous. They say the accused carefully planned every step of the crime, from choosing the location to avoiding digital surveillance and even mapping out their future after Agarwal’s death.
Police say that one of the most striking revelations made by police is that a pre-arranged “sit down” signal was used. Goyal was told to sit under the guise of drinking water or tying her shoelaces. And that was the signal for Chaudhary to push Agarwal off the cliff.
The police believe the signal had a dual purpose. It indicated that Agarwal was standing at the edge of the cliff and also ensured that Goyal remained out of his immediate reach, reducing the possibility of him pulling her along in an attempt to save himself.
To verify their findings, investigators recently recreated the crime scene at Lohagad Fort using a dummy, with Goyal present during the reconstruction. And officials say the exercise helped them better understand the sequence of events and compare it with the evidence collected so far.
The investigation has also revealed what police say was extensive preparation before the alleged murder. Goyal and Chaudhary had visited Lohagad Fort days before the incident to find a suitable location and allegedly rehearse their plan, investigators said.
#UPDATE | Ketan Agarwal murder case: Accused Siya and Chetan have been remanded to police custody until 3rd July. https://t.co/aMM9wRmqXP
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2026
The police also claim Chaudhary drove to the fort on a scooter instead of a car to avoid toll plaza cameras recording a vehicle registration number. And investigators also say he wore a hoodie while approaching the fort to hide his identity, removed it during the alleged attack and put it back on before leaving the vicinity.
And the financial aspect of the investigation has added another layer to the case. Agarwal had given Goyal nearly ₹1 crore for wedding-related expenses ahead of their marriage, according to police sources. The money, investigators say, was never used for wedding preparations and was transferred to Chaudhary.
The funds were to assist Chaudhary in building up his business and to guarantee financial stability after the alleged crime, police say. And the investigators are now checking banking transactions, digital records and financial documents to check the movement of the money.
The other big discovery of the investigation is the alleged long-term plan that the accused had developed after Agarwal's death. Goyal and Chaudhary wanted to remain apart for nearly three years after the incident to not be uncovered, police said. During that time investigators believe Chaudhary was planning to work on building his career and the two would marry with Goyal’s family in mind.
These findings are based on the ongoing police investigation, the officials say. The charges have not been tested in court and the accused are entitled to defend themselves through the judicial process, they said.
With the accused now in extended police custody, investigators are still examining digital devices, financial records, witness accounts and forensic evidence to determine the full extent of the alleged conspiracy. Police will have more arrests or charges to make if more evidence emerges during the investigation, they said.
