Sanjay Gupta's Rhea-Siya comparison sparks backlash on X
Synopsis
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta's attempt to draw a parallel between Siya Goyal — accused in the Ketan Agarwal death case — and Rhea Chakraborty's 2020 media trial backfired sharply on X. Critics argued the cases are not comparable, with one user pointing out that Siya was allegedly present at the scene when Ketan fell from Lohagad Fort — a fact that has no parallel in the Rhea episode.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Gupta posted on X on 2 July urging the public not to repeat the 'trial-by-television' seen in the Rhea Chakraborty case against Siya Goyal .
Siya Goyal is under investigation for the alleged murder of her fiancé, Ketan Agarwal , who died at Lohagad Fort on 18 June .
Investigators reportedly suspect the death was planned by Goyal and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary ; the investigation is ongoing.
Netizens widely rejected the comparison, citing factual distinctions between the two cases.
Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by the NCB in 2020 in an alleged drug case following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput .
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta sparked a sharp online debate on 2 July after he drew a parallel between the ongoing Ketan Agarwal murder case and the media trial faced by actress Rhea Chakraborty following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020. The comparison, posted on his official X handle, drew swift and widespread criticism from users who argued the two cases are fundamentally different.
What Sanjay Gupta Said
Gupta, known for directing Kaante, posted on X: 'Not standing in judgement. Not taking sides. Just saying — can we please stop doing to Siya what we did to Rhea? We all watched that circus. The trial-by-television. The verdict before the evidence. We never learn.'
The director did not take a position on the guilt or innocence of Siya Goyal, the fiancée of the deceased, who is currently under investigation in connection with Ketan Agarwal's death. His stated intent was to caution against a repeat of what he described as mob judgement on social media.
The Backlash Online
Netizens were largely unconvinced. Several users pushed back forcefully in the comment section of Gupta's post.
One user wrote: 'Sometimes you manage to pick the most illogical side of an argument. Stop trying so hard Sir. Kiski nazron me oocha banna hai.'
Another commented: 'What is wrong with you? Or nothing is right with you? She is a murderer. There is enough evidence. She not only killed a boy but his entire family by killing their only son. If she was not happy, she could have run away from her home instead of killing an innocent boy.'
A third user raised a factual distinction: 'Right, but how can the two cases be compared? Unless I've missed reading any new developments, wasn't Siya actually present on the scene when her fiancé was pushed off the cliff?'
Background: The Ketan Agarwal Case
Ketan Agarwal was initially believed to have died in an accidental fall during a trek at Lohagad Fort on 18 June. Subsequent investigation led authorities to suspect foul play. According to reports, investigators believe the death was allegedly planned by Ketan's fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary. The investigation is presently underway, and no court verdict has been delivered.
The Rhea Chakraborty Precedent
Rhea Chakraborty faced extensive public scrutiny and a prolonged media trial after her then-boyfriend, Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020. She was subsequently arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with an alleged drug case. The episode became a widely cited example of trial-by-television in Indian media discourse.
Whether the parallel Gupta draws holds up legally or factually remains contested — and, as critics noted, the Ketan Agarwal investigation is still active.
Point of View
But the execution invited the very pile-on he was cautioning against. The Rhea Chakraborty case was a genuine low point for Indian media, but invoking it while an active murder investigation is underway conflates two very different evidentiary situations. The pushback Gupta received reflects a public that is not simply trigger-happy: several commenters raised specific factual distinctions, not just emotional reactions. The episode is a reminder that even well-intentioned social media interventions by public figures can collapse under the weight of context they have not fully accounted for.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sanjay Gupta post about Siya Goyal and Rhea Chakraborty?
Sanjay Gupta posted on X urging people not to subject Siya Goyal to the same trial-by-television that Rhea Chakraborty faced in 2020. He stated he was 'not standing in judgement' and 'not taking sides,' but called out what he described as a repeat of mob justice on social media.
Who is Siya Goyal and what is the Ketan Agarwal case?
Siya Goyal is the fiancée of Ketan Agarwal, who died at Lohagad Fort on 18 June in what was initially believed to be an accidental fall during a trek. Investigators subsequently reportedly suspected foul play, with Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary named as suspects. The investigation is ongoing and no court verdict has been delivered.
Why did Sanjay Gupta face backlash for his post?
Critics argued that the Ketan Agarwal case is factually distinct from the Rhea Chakraborty situation, notably because Siya Goyal was reportedly present at the scene when Ketan fell. Many users felt the comparison minimised the evidence in an active murder investigation.
What happened to Rhea Chakraborty in 2020?
Rhea Chakraborty faced extensive public and media scrutiny after her then-boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020. She was later arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with an alleged drug case, though the episode is widely remembered as a case of disproportionate media trial.
Is the Ketan Agarwal case still under investigation?
Yes. As of 2 July, the investigation into Ketan Agarwal's death at Lohagad Fort on 18 June remains active. No charges have been formally framed and no court verdict has been delivered.
