Ketan Agarwal murder: Secret call 34 mins before death, deleted chats key evidence
Synopsis
A phone call made just 34 minutes before realtor Ketan Agarwal was allegedly pushed off Lohagad Fort, combined with deliberately deleted WhatsApp and Instagram chats, has become the backbone of a premeditated murder case against his fiancée Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary — with police claiming the plot was hatched as far back as February 2025.
Key Takeaways
Prime accused Siya Goyal , 20 , allegedly called co-accused Chetan Chaudhary just 34 minutes before Ketan Agarwal was pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on 18 June 2025 .
Investigators suspect the call was used to confirm Goyal's location and the absence of witnesses — a final coordination signal.
The accused allegedly deleted months of WhatsApp messages, Instagram chats, and voice notes; cyber experts are working to recover the data.
Police allege the murder conspiracy was hatched as early as February 2025 and finalised by end of May .
A first alleged attempt to kill Agarwal was made on 14 June ; he reportedly survived by grabbing a bush.
Charges are being built under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for premeditated murder.
A 34-minute pre-death phone call and the deliberate deletion of months of digital messages have emerged as the most critical pieces of evidence in the investigation into the alleged murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort, according to police sources. The Pune Rural Police are building a case of premeditated murder under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against prime accused Siya Goyal, 20, and her alleged lover and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary.
The Critical Phone Call
Investigators say Goyal placed a phone call to Chaudhary just 34 minutes before Agarwal was allegedly pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on 18 June 2025. According to police sources, investigators suspect she used the call to relay her exact location at a viewpoint inside the fort and to confirm that no other visitors were present nearby — effectively giving the go-ahead for the alleged plan to proceed without interruption.
The call has been flagged by the Pune Rural Police's technical surveillance team as one of the strongest single pieces of digital evidence recovered so far. It was identified during a detailed forensic examination of mobile phones seized from both accused.
Deleted Chats and Forensic Recovery Efforts
The probe has further revealed that the accused allegedly deleted months of WhatsApp messages, Instagram chats, and voice notes in an apparent attempt to erase any digital trail linking them to the alleged murder plot. Cyber experts are now working to retrieve the erased data using forensic recovery tools.
Police are reportedly cross-referencing recovered digital records with location history, call detail records (CDRs), and internet IP logs to construct a comprehensive timeline of events. This body of digital evidence is expected to be central to establishing charges of premeditated murder.
Background: A Plot Allegedly Months in the Making
Agarwal, a realtor, was engaged to marry Goyal in November. According to investigators, Goyal had developed a close relationship with Chaudhary — whom she first met at one of his cricket matches and later reconnected with through a mutual friend. Police sources allege that planning for the murder began as early as February 2025 and was finalised by the end of May.
Investigators allege a first attempt was made on 14 June, when Goyal reportedly tried to push Agarwal off the same cliff at Lohagad Fort. He reportedly survived by grabbing onto a bush. Goyal allegedly explained the incident away by claiming she had accidentally shoved him while reacting to a snake.
The Second and Fatal Attempt
Four days later, on 18 June, investigators allege the accused made a second attempt. Chaudhary allegedly followed the couple to Lohagad Fort to ensure Agarwal could not escape. According to sources, Chaudhary had asked Goyal to wait at least three years before they could marry, as he wanted to first establish his career. With Goyal's wedding to Agarwal already scheduled for November, the alleged conspiracy was framed around 'buying time' — with Agarwal's death expected to place the family in mourning for years, freeing Goyal to live independently while Chaudhary focused on his career.
What Comes Next
The Pune Rural Police are expected to file a chargesheet anchored on the digital evidence trail, including the recovered call records, CDRs, and any data retrieved from the deleted chats. The case is being watched closely as a test of how effectively Indian law enforcement can deploy digital forensics to establish criminal conspiracy in murder investigations.
Point of View
And that gap is precisely what the Pune Rural Police appear to be exploiting. If the chargesheet holds, this case could set a precedent for how digital forensics are used to establish criminal conspiracy in premeditated murder cases under the BNS. The alleged motive — buying time before an unwanted marriage — also raises uncomfortable questions about the pressures surrounding arranged marriages and the absence of safe off-ramps for young people in such situations. That dimension deserves more scrutiny than it has received so far.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the accused in the Ketan Agarwal murder case?
The prime accused is Siya Goyal , 20, who was engaged to marry Ketan Agarwal in November. Her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary has been named as co-accused. Both are in police custody following the alleged murder at Lohagad Fort, Pune, on 18 June 2025.
What is the significance of the phone call made 34 minutes before the murder?
Police say Siya Goyal called Chetan Chaudhary just 34 minutes before Ketan Agarwal was allegedly pushed off a cliff. Investigators suspect the call was used to confirm her location and that no witnesses were present — making it what they describe as the final coordination before the alleged crime.
Why did the accused allegedly delete WhatsApp and Instagram messages?
According to police sources, the accused deleted months of WhatsApp messages, Instagram chats, and voice notes in an apparent attempt to erase digital evidence linking them to the alleged murder conspiracy. Cyber forensic experts are now working to recover the deleted data.
Was there an earlier attempt to kill Ketan Agarwal?
Yes. Investigators allege a first attempt was made on 14 June 2025 , when Goyal reportedly tried to push Agarwal off the same cliff at Lohagad Fort . He reportedly survived by grabbing onto a bush, and Goyal allegedly claimed it was an accidental shove triggered by a snake.
What charges are being framed in the Ketan Agarwal case?
The Pune Rural Police are pursuing charges of premeditated murder under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) . The chargesheet is expected to be anchored on digital evidence including call records, CDRs, location history, and recovered deleted data.
