Accused Chetan Chaudhary and the victim's fiancée Siya Goyal allegedly masterminded the murder of Ketan Agarwal near Lohagad Fort, Pune, on 18 June, reportedly to prevent his arranged marriage to Siya — who was allegedly in a romantic relationship with Chetan. The case has drawn attention for the elaborate digital cover-up the accused reportedly attempted on the day of the crime.

The Alleged Conspiracy

According to the First Information Report filed by the victim's father, Vishal Devichand Agarwal, both Chetan and Siya pushed Ketan off a cliff to his death near the Vinchu Kata ridge at Lohagad Fort. Sources connected with the case indicate the motive centred on Siya's wish to delay her arranged marriage, reportedly scheduled for November, to buy time for her relationship with Chetan. According to sources, Chetan had asked Siya to wait at least three years before they could marry, as he wished to establish himself professionally.

A Calculated Digital Blackout

Sources have shared a detailed alleged timeline of Chetan's movements on the day of the crime. At around 7 am, he reportedly disabled his mobile data to prevent cell towers from logging his geographic trail. An hour later, he allegedly left his personal smartphone at his shop and instructed workers to answer all incoming calls — an attempt, investigators believe, to create the impression he never left his workplace.

Around noon, he reportedly borrowed an employee's mobile phone for necessary communications while en route to Lohagad Fort. By 2 pm, he was allegedly shadowing Ketan and Siya up the fort trail, wearing a thick winter hoodie despite the 33 degrees Celsius summer heat — a detail that later drew investigators' attention.

The Alleged Act and Its Aftermath

At approximately 2.30 pm, upon reaching a secluded cliff near Vinchu Kata ridge, Siya allegedly sat down — reportedly acting as a visual cue to Chetan. He then allegedly stepped out from hiding and pushed Ketan approximately 400 feet to his death. Chetan reportedly remained off the digital grid for 10 hours and 40 minutes before switching his internet back on at around 5.40 pm.

Earlier that morning, Ketan had left home, picked up Siya from the Kiwale bridge on the Pune-Mumbai highway, and headed to the fort. At 10.45 am, Siya called Ketan's mother, claiming he had accidentally fallen into a gorge. Locals and police recovered him from the gorge and transported him to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

How Investigators Cracked the Cover-Up

The elaborate plan reportedly unravelled through a combination of CCTV footage and digital forensics. Investigators flagged Chetan's prolonged offline period and identified his distinctive winter attire on surveillance cameras. They also confirmed with callers that someone else had been answering his phone. The family had separately grown suspicious after noting that Siya's phone was constantly busy and that she frequently mentioned her 'friend' Chetan, leading them to suspect a romantic involvement.

A missed trip to Lohagad Fort on 4 June is believed to have been a source of tension, with Siya reportedly pressing Ketan persistently to take her there — a detail investigators consider significant in reconstructing the alleged conspiracy. As the case proceeds, all allegations remain subject to judicial scrutiny and the accused are entitled to due process.