FDA seals Pune shop of Siya Goyal's father amid murder case fallout
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sealed a Pune shop owned by Praveen Goyal, father of Siya Goyal — the prime accused in the alleged murder of her fiancé Ketan Agarwal — following a surprise inspection on Tuesday, 14 July. The family-run business, which deals in spices and dry fruits, was ordered to suspend operations pending a licence correction.
What the FDA Found
FDA officials visited the shop at approximately 11:30 am on 14 July and collected four samples — two of turmeric (haldi) powder, one of soya chunks, and one of a sesame product known locally as Gavran Til. Praveen Goyal maintained that all sampled products are widely available in the market and that he holds complete purchase documentation for each.
The sole procedural lapse identified, according to Praveen Goyal, was a licence discrepancy: the shop's current address — Gala No. 348 — had not been updated on the FDA licence after the business relocated from a rented premises to its own shop roughly six to seven months ago. The existing licence remains valid through 2030.
What Praveen Goyal Said
'We have already applied for the correction, and it should be completed within the next 8–10 days. Until then, they have asked me to keep the shop closed, and I am complying with those instructions. Apart from this, there is no other issue,' Praveen Goyal told reporters.
He stressed that the licence issue was an inadvertent administrative oversight, not a substantive violation, and expressed confidence that operations would resume once the address update is processed.
Background: The Lohagad Fort Murder Case
The FDA action comes against the backdrop of a high-profile criminal case. Ketan Agarwal was allegedly murdered by his fiancée Siya Goyal and her purported lover Chetan Chaudhary at Lohagad Fort, near Pune, last month. The case has attracted significant public attention and placed the Goyal family under sustained scrutiny.
Notably, the regulatory inspection follows a pattern seen in several high-profile crime cases, where authorities conduct compliance checks on businesses associated with accused individuals — though the FDA has not officially linked the inspection to the criminal proceedings.
Family of Victim Seeks Speedy Justice
The victim's family has separately escalated its appeals to the highest offices of the country. On Monday, Ketan's mother Rakhi Agarwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging that her son's case receive priority attention. In her email, she said: 'With folded hands, I humbly request you to kindly ensure that my son's case receives the attention it deserves and that justice is delivered without unnecessary delay. Please do not let Ketan become just another case file. He was someone's son, someone's grandson, someone's brother, but to me, he was my entire world.'
Earlier, Ketan's father Vishal Agarwal had written to President Droupadi Murmu seeking a fast-tracked investigation into the case.
What Happens Next
The FDA samples collected from the shop will be tested, with further regulatory action dependent on results. The Goyal family's licence correction application is expected to be processed within 8–10 days, after which the shop may reopen. The criminal case against Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary continues, with the victim's family pressing for expedited proceedings.