Ketan Agarwal, a 24-year-old from a Pune-based business family, was allegedly pushed to his death from Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on 18 June by his fiancee Siya Goyal and her associate Chetan Chaudhary, according to police. What was initially recorded as a trekking mishap has since been reclassified as a premeditated murder, with both accused taken into custody after CCTV footage, call detail records, and technical analysis raised serious doubts about the official account.

How the Case Unfolded

Siya Goyal and Ketan Agarwal, who had got engaged in February, had gone to visit Lohagad Fort on the morning of 18 June. At around 10:30–10:45 am, Goyal called to report that Agarwal had slipped and fallen from the fort, resulting in his death. Security personnel, police, and both families rushed to the scene, and a case was initially registered as an accidental death.

However, early findings pointed to conflicting circumstances. Agarwal's family told investigators that he was a trained and experienced trekker, making an accidental fall at that location unlikely — particularly on what was described as a day of personal celebration for the couple.

What the Investigation Revealed

Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill, briefing reporters on the case, said that further investigation through confidential sources established that Goyal had a close associate named Chetan Chaudhary. Goyal's family business is located at Market Yard, where Chaudhary also operates a shop. The two had reportedly known each other for approximately one year.

According to SP Gill, the probe concluded that Goyal and Chaudhary had together hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Agarwal, and executed the plan at Lohagad Fort. Police determined that Agarwal did not fall accidentally but was pushed from the fort, causing his death.

Arrests and Confessions

A formal murder case has since been registered. Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have been taken into custody. According to police, both are believed to have confessed to the crime during interrogation; however, investigators have stated that the probe is ongoing and has not yet been formally concluded.

Background and Broader Context

The case has drawn attention to the challenges in distinguishing trekking accidents from foul play at remote heritage sites such as Lohagad, where limited surveillance infrastructure can complicate early investigations. This is not the first time a death at a Maharashtra hill fort has prompted a murder inquiry — law enforcement officials have in the past faced criticism for closing such cases too quickly as accidents.

The Pune Rural Police's decision to dig deeper, aided by CCTV footage and call records, proved decisive in this instance. The investigation remains active, and further developments are expected as forensic and technical evidence is examined.