Lohagad Fort murder: Siya Goyal secretly married Chaudhary months before Ketan wedding
Synopsis
The Lohagad Fort murder case has taken a sharp new turn: prime accused Siya Goyal allegedly married boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary in secret under the Special Marriage Act — months before her scheduled wedding to Ketan Agarwal, who died after falling from the fort on 18 June. If a marriage certificate is confirmed, it could become the most decisive piece of evidence in the case.
Key Takeaways
Prime accused Siya Goyal allegedly entered into a secret marriage with boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary approximately four months before her planned wedding to Ketan Agarwal .
The alleged marriage was reportedly registered under the Special Marriage Act ; police are verifying whether an official certificate exists.
Ketan Agarwal , a 25-year-old Pune realtor, died after falling from Lohagad Fort on 18 June ; investigators allege a pre-planned conspiracy.
Investigators are examining Chaudhary's bank transactions for possible payments to bypass the mandatory public notice period under the Act.
Deleted photos from a private Instagram account allegedly showing the couple in wedding garlands are being sought as evidence.
Both Goyal and Chaudhary remain in judicial custody .
A significant new development has emerged in the Lohagad Fort murder case in Pune, with sources claiming that prime accused Siya Goyal had allegedly entered into a secret marriage with her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary approximately four months before her scheduled wedding to Pune-based businessman Ketan Agarwal. The revelation, if verified, could substantially alter the trajectory of the ongoing investigation into Agarwal's death on 18 June.
The Secret Marriage Claim
According to sources, Goyal and Chaudhary allegedly registered their marriage under the Special Marriage Act roughly four months ago — even as Goyal remained publicly engaged to Ketan Agarwal, a 25-year-old Pune-based realtor whom she had been engaged to since February. Agarwal had been set to marry Goyal in November in a planned destination wedding in Udaipur.
Police are now working to verify whether an official marriage certificate exists. Investigators are also examining Chaudhary's bank transactions to determine whether any payments were made to circumvent the mandatory public notice period stipulated under the Special Marriage Act. Two of Goyal's college friends, who allegedly served as witnesses during the registration, are also being questioned.
The Death at Lohagad Fort
The case centres on the death of Ketan Agarwal, who died after falling from a cliff at Lohagad Fort on 18 June. Investigators allege the incident was part of a pre-planned conspiracy, with police claiming that Chaudhary followed Goyal and Agarwal to the fort on the day of the incident. According to investigators, the alleged conspiracy gained momentum after Agarwal's family sought Goyal's documents to finalise arrangements for the Udaipur wedding.
Digital Evidence Under Scrutiny
Investigators have reportedly uncovered deleted messages, alleged online searches, and other digital material suggesting detailed planning in the days leading up to Agarwal's death. According to purported findings of the probe, Goyal and Chaudhary allegedly searched Google and YouTube for methods of killing Agarwal before allegedly settling on pushing him from the fort. Police are also attempting to retrieve deleted photographs from a private Instagram account that reportedly showed Goyal and Chaudhary wearing wedding garlands.
What the Accused Allegedly Said
During questioning, Goyal has purportedly told investigators that she did not want to marry Agarwal. She allegedly claimed that she conspired with Chaudhary to kill him because she believed calling off the wedding would bring disrepute to her family. Both Goyal and Chaudhary are currently in judicial custody.
What Happens Next
The verification of the marriage certificate under the Special Marriage Act is expected to be a critical milestone in the investigation. If confirmed, it would establish a clear legal motive and potentially strengthen the prosecution's case. Investigators continue to examine financial records, digital evidence, and witness statements as the probe unfolds.
Point of View
It transforms the narrative from a love-triangle tragedy into a documented conspiracy with a verifiable paper trail. What this case also surfaces is a broader tension: the social pressure that allegedly drove Goyal to believe murder was preferable to calling off a wedding. Investigators will need to establish whether the digital search evidence is forensically sound, as deleted-data recoveries are routinely challenged in Indian courts. The Udaipur destination wedding trigger — Agarwal's family seeking documents — suggests the alleged conspiracy had a specific deadline, which prosecutors may use to establish premeditation with precision.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lohagad Fort murder case?
The Lohagad Fort murder case involves the death of Ketan Agarwal , a 25-year-old Pune-based realtor, who died after falling from a cliff at Lohagad Fort on 18 June. Police allege the incident was a pre-planned murder involving his fiancée Siya Goyal and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary, both of whom are in judicial custody.
What is the secret marriage claim in the Lohagad Fort case?
Sources claim that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary allegedly registered their marriage under the Special Marriage Act approximately four months before Goyal's scheduled November wedding to Ketan Agarwal. Police are working to verify whether an official marriage certificate exists, as it could significantly impact the investigation.
What digital evidence have police found in the Lohagad Fort case?
According to investigators, Goyal and Chaudhary allegedly conducted Google and YouTube searches for methods of killing Agarwal before allegedly choosing to push him from the fort. Police are also attempting to recover deleted messages and photographs from a private Instagram account that reportedly showed the couple in wedding garlands.
Why did the alleged conspiracy allegedly accelerate, according to investigators?
Investigators believe the alleged plot gained urgency after Agarwal's family requested Goyal's documents to finalise arrangements for a planned destination wedding in Udaipur. This reportedly created a deadline that allegedly prompted the accused to act.
What happens next in the Lohagad Fort murder investigation?
Police are prioritising the verification of the alleged marriage certificate under the Special Marriage Act, examining Chaudhary's bank records for payments related to bypassing the Act's public notice requirement, and questioning two college friends who allegedly witnessed the marriage registration.
