The investigation into the murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal took a significant turn on 27 June after police questioned Sahil Goyal, brother of prime accused Siya Goyal, for nearly 10 hours at the Lonavala Rural Police Station. Sahil reportedly told investigators that the family would have cancelled the marriage had Siya expressed any reluctance to wed Ketan — a statement that directly contradicts the alleged motive behind the killing.

What Sahil Goyal Told Police

Sahil appeared before investigators on Friday morning and was released only late in the evening after extensive questioning. Officers sought details about Siya's relationship with co-accused Chetan Chaudhary, 22, and sought to verify several aspects of the case.

'If Siya had said she didn't like Ketan, we would have stopped the wedding,' Sahil reportedly told the police. An official from the Lonavala Rural Police Station confirmed the questioning and the timeline of Sahil's detention.

The Alleged Conspiracy at Lohagad Fort

Police allege that Ketan Agarwal was murdered on 18 June at Lohagad Fort after being pushed off a cliff by his fiancée, Siya Goyal, 20, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary. Investigators suspect the two had conspired to eliminate Ketan because Siya allegedly no longer wished to proceed with their November wedding.

The case was initially registered as an accidental death after Siya claimed Ketan had slipped while trekking. The investigation shifted direction after police examined CCTV footage from the ticket counter at Lohagad Fort. The footage allegedly showed a man in a hoodie and shorts walking close behind the couple despite the day's temperature being around 33 degrees Celsius. In one clip, Siya was allegedly seen looking back while the hooded figure abruptly sat down. Police later identified that individual as Chetan Chaudhary.

Investigators further allege that Siya had repeatedly urged Ketan to visit Lohagad Fort in the weeks before the incident. The couple reportedly visited the fort on 31 May, and she again proposed a return trip on 4 June, which was reportedly prevented by Ketan's mother. On 14 June, police allege, Siya attempted to push Ketan from the cliff, but he managed to save himself by grabbing a bush. When questioned about the incident, she allegedly claimed there had been a snake nearby.

Conflicting Accounts from Both Families

Siya's mother has maintained that her daughter was not keen to visit Lohagad Fort on the day of the incident. She claimed that during a video call on the evening of 17 June, Ketan and his mother persuaded Siya to accompany him despite her stating she had a family function the next day and wanted to rest.

Siya's father rejected reports of an extravagant wedding budget, confirming the wedding was scheduled in Udaipur in November and that the family had reserved 70 rooms at a hotel. He said the overall wedding expenditure was expected to remain below ₹3 crore.

Ketan's father, Vishal Agarwal, dismissed speculation that his son's use of a toupee played any role in the alleged crime. 'Ketan had a small patch of hair loss due to medical reasons, but this was clearly communicated well before the marriage was finalised,' he said. 'If she had any issues, she could have just said no. It would have been very easy for Siya to simply call off the wedding if that was an issue for her,' he added.

Ketan, who served as Director and Chief Marketing Officer of his family's real estate firm, Success Group, had initially appeared to have died in a trekking accident before investigators concluded the death was the result of a planned conspiracy.

Government Response and Fast-Track Trial

The case has drawn considerable attention across Maharashtra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently met Ketan's father in Pune and assured the family of full support during the legal proceedings. The Maharashtra government has agreed to conduct the trial in a fast-track court and has appointed senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor.

Fadnavis described the incident as deeply disturbing and said it pointed to a broader social concern. 'It is an extremely shocking and incomprehensible incident. As a society, we need to reflect on why educated young men and women from good families develop such criminal intent and a desire for revenge. This is not merely a criminal issue; it also has a social angle,' he said.

With Sahil Goyal's questioning complete, investigators are expected to widen their probe into the alleged conspiracy's planning and communication chain in the days ahead.