Ketan Agarwal murder: Fiancee Siya Goyal held victim's phone before handing it over
Synopsis
Pune Police have confirmed that murder accused Siya Goyal held her slain fiance Ketan Agarwal's phone before handing it over — raising critical questions about potential evidence tampering. With a crime scene reconstruction at Lohagad Fort now complete and a passport destruction angle emerging, the case against Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary is growing more complex by the day.
Key Takeaways
Siya Goyal , prime accused in the Ketan Agarwal murder case, held the victim's phone for a period before handing it to his family, Pune Police confirmed.
Whether the phone data was accessed or tampered with by Siya or co-accused Chetan Chaudhary remains under investigation.
Pune Rural Police recreated the crime scene at Lohagad Fort on Wednesday , using a fibre dummy thrown into a gorge more than 300 feet deep.
A 'gait analysis' of Chetan Chaudhary was conducted on Tuesday as part of the forensic probe.
The Vadgaon Maval court granted police five more days of custody of both accused on Monday .
Investigators allege Siya Goyal tore and burnt Ketan's passport at a food mall en route to Mumbai airport for a pre-wedding Bali trip.
In a significant development in the Ketan Agarwal murder case, Pune Police have confirmed that the victim's mobile phone remained in the possession of prime accused and fiancee Siya Goyal for a period after his death before she eventually handed it over to Ketan's family. Whether the phone's data was accessed or tampered with during that time remains under investigation.
Key Developments in the Investigation
Investigators have not yet established whether Siya Goyal or her co-accused Chetan Babulal Chaudhary altered or deleted any data from the device. The matter is being probed as part of the broader inquiry into the 18 June incident at Lohagad Fort in Maharashtra, where 26-year-old real estate businessman Ketan Agarwal was allegedly pushed to his death into a gorge.
On Wednesday, Pune Rural Police conducted a crime scene reconstruction at Lohagad Fort, throwing a fibre dummy matching the victim's height and weight into a gorge more than 300 feet deep to reconstruct the sequence of events.
What the Police Said
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Lonavala division, Gajanan Tompe said: 'Today, we took the accused to Lohagad and carried out a crime scene reconstruction this morning. The procedure was conducted as per the actual crime scene details. The investigation is still ongoing. We will place all necessary information before the court as required and continue the investigation accordingly.'
He added: 'We are recording statements of all those who are connected with the case and will continue to do so.'
On Tuesday, police also conducted a 'gait analysis' of second accused Chetan Chaudhary — a forensic technique used to match a person's walking pattern to surveillance footage.
Court Extends Custody, Probe Incomplete
On Monday, the Vadgaon Maval court granted Pune Rural Police five additional days of custody of both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary, after investigators informed the court that several crucial aspects of the probe remained incomplete. These included tracing Chetan's movements after the incident, examining post-murder phone conversations, and recovering evidence linked to the destruction of Ketan Agarwal's passport.
The Passport Destruction Angle
According to investigators, Siya Goyal allegedly stole Ketan's passport and subsequently tore and burnt it during a stop at a food mall while the family was travelling to Mumbai airport for a pre-wedding trip to Bali. The destruction of the passport is being treated as a critical piece of evidence pointing to premeditation, according to police.
This is the latest in a string of revelations that have deepened the case against the two accused. With the custody extension in place, investigators are expected to present further findings before the court in the coming days.
Point of View
It could complicate the prosecution's digital evidence chain. The passport destruction angle is equally telling: it suggests a degree of premeditation that goes beyond an impulsive act. Pune Rural Police appear methodical — gait analysis, crime scene reconstruction, custody extensions — but the pressure is on them to close evidentiary gaps before the chargesheet deadline. The court will be watching closely.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Siya Goyal and what is she accused of?
Siya Goyal is the fiancee and prime accused in the murder of Ketan Agarwal , a 26-year-old real estate businessman from Pune. She and her alleged lover Chetan Babulal Chaudhary are accused of pushing Ketan to his death at Lohagad Fort in Maharashtra on 18 June .
Why is Ketan Agarwal's phone significant to the investigation?
Pune Police have confirmed that the victim's phone was in Siya Goyal's possession for a period after his murder before she handed it to his family. Investigators are examining whether any data was accessed or tampered with during that time, which could affect the digital evidence in the case.
What happened during the Lohagad Fort crime scene reconstruction?
On Wednesday , Pune Rural Police took both accused to Lohagad Fort and threw a fibre dummy matching Ketan Agarwal's height and weight into a gorge more than 300 feet deep to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to his death.
Why did the court extend the custody of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary?
The Vadgaon Maval court granted five additional days of police custody on Monday after investigators told the court that key aspects of the probe — including tracing Chetan's movements, analysing post-murder phone calls, and recovering evidence on the passport destruction — remained incomplete.
What is the passport destruction allegation against Siya Goyal?
According to investigators, Siya Goyal allegedly stole Ketan Agarwal's passport and tore and burnt it at a food mall while the family was travelling to Mumbai airport for a pre-wedding trip to Bali . Police are treating this as evidence of premeditation.
