What initially appeared to be a tragic trekking accident at Lohagad Fort near Pune has unravelled into a chilling murder mystery involving a fiancée, her alleged lover, multiple failed murder attempts and a crucial clue—a hoodie worn in 33-degree Celsius heat.
Police allege that 26-year-old real estate businessman Ketan Agarwal was pushed off a cliff on June 18 by his fiancée Siya Goyal, 20, and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, 22. The shocking conspiracy came to light after investigators spotted suspicious CCTV footage showing a hooded man trailing the couple near the fort.
According to police, the breakthrough came when CCTV cameras near the fort's ticket counter captured Ketan and Siya walking towards the trekking route while a man wearing a hoodie and headset followed them from a distance. In another clip, the man suddenly sat down after Siya looked back at him. Investigators later identified him as Chetan Chaudhary.
The hoodie itself became a key clue. Officers found that temperatures at the hill fort touched around 33 degrees Celsius on the day of the incident, making the attire highly unusual and raising suspicions about the man's identity and intentions.
As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered what they describe as a meticulously planned conspiracy. Police claim Siya and Chetan had been in constant touch, exchanging thousands of phone calls, many lasting several hours. Digital evidence and call records allegedly revealed the extent of their relationship and planning.
The probe also uncovered a series of alleged failed attempts to kill Ketan before the fatal fall.
According to Ketan's family, Siya had repeatedly pressured him to accompany her to Lohagad Fort in the weeks leading up to his death. Police allege the first attempt took place on May 31, when Siya allegedly tried to push Ketan off a cliff. He survived after grabbing onto a bush. Siya allegedly covered up the incident by claiming she had pushed him to save him from a snake and then pretended to rescue him.
A second planned visit on June 4 never materialised after Ketan's mother reportedly stopped him from going to the fort.
Investigators are also examining a bizarre incident linked to the couple's planned pre-wedding photoshoot in Bali. The trip was cancelled after Ketan's passport mysteriously disappeared. Police suspect the passport may have gone missing after Siya briefly returned alone to their parked car during a shopping stop.
Despite the earlier incidents, Siya allegedly continued persuading Ketan to visit Lohagad. Police claim another attempt was made on June 14, again accompanied by a dramatic snake scare that portrayed Siya as Ketan's saviour.
The case finally cracked after investigators matched CCTV footage of the mysterious hooded man with images obtained from Chetan Chaudhary's social media profiles. Police teams subsequently tracked him down and questioned him, eventually piecing together what they describe as a premeditated murder conspiracy.
Police believe the motive was Siya's alleged relationship with Chetan and her unwillingness to continue with the engagement. Investigators claim she did not want to elope because she feared it would bring shame to her family.
Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested and charged with murder and criminal conspiracy.
Ketan's devastated father, Vishal Agarwal, said the families had known each other for nearly four decades and never suspected anything was wrong. He has demanded strict action against all those involved and called for a fast-track trial, alleging that more people may have played a role in the conspiracy.
