A fake Instagram account, ChatGPT queries, and murder films formed part of the alleged conspiracy behind the killing of Ketan Agarwal, a 26-year-old businessman pushed off Lohagad Fort in Pune on 18 June 2026, according to the charge sheet filed by police in the case. The 5,053-page charge sheet, submitted on Saturday, details a premeditated plot involving Agarwal's fiancée Siya Goyal and two co-accused.

The Accused and the Alleged Plot

Goyal is alleged to have pushed Agarwal off the fort with the assistance of her purported lover Chetan Chaudhary and a third accused, Ritesh Hange. All three have been arrested by Pune Police. According to investigators, the accused initially considered seriously injuring Agarwal and explored hiring an outsider from beyond Maharashtra to carry out the attack — a plan later dropped over fears the hired assailant could expose them. A person contacted during this stage has since turned into a witness, according to the charge sheet.

How Technology Was Used to Plan the Crime

The charge sheet alleges that the accused subsequently resolved to kill Agarwal themselves, using ChatGPT and murder films as reference material. They reportedly also listened to podcasts on evading police detection as part of their preparation. Notably, investigators stated that the accused researched last year's Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, in which Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly killed by his wife Sonam during their honeymoon in the state's East Khasi Hills district — suggesting the accused were drawing on real-world cases to refine their approach.

The Fake 'Mahi' Account and the Lure

Central to bringing the victim to the location was a fake Instagram account named 'Mahi', created using a photograph of a woman known to the accused. According to the charge sheet, messages sent from this account encouraged Agarwal to visit Lohagad Fort on 18 June under the pretext of a surprise birthday plan for Goyal. The account, devised as part of a plan attributed to Ritesh Hange, was deleted after the incident.

Why Lohagad Fort Was Chosen

The accused had conducted a recce of several locations near Lonavala before settling on Lohagad Fort. According to investigators, Goyal and Chaudhary visited Tiger Point and other spots in search of an isolated location. Police say Lohagad was ultimately selected because a death had occurred at the fort in March the previous year, leading the accused to believe Agarwal's death could be made to appear as an accidental fall.

What Happens Next

With the charge sheet now formally filed, the case moves toward trial. The 5,053-page document lays out the prosecution's case against all three accused. The use of AI tools and social media in the alleged pre-planning is likely to attract scrutiny beyond the immediate case, raising broader questions about digital evidence in criminal proceedings.