‘Fiancee, her boyfriend responsible’: Mother after Pune man ‘pushed’ to death in gorge

‘It never crossed our minds that she could be this kind of person’: Ketan’s mother pleads for death penalty to suspects of her son’s death

NEW DELHI: The mother of 26-year-old Ketan Vishal Agrawal has demanded the harshest punishment for those accused of killing her son, after Pune police alleged that his fiancée and her lover conspired to push him into a 400-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort on June 18.Pleading for justice, the she said that there were no suspicions of ill intentions from her son’s fiancée, Siya Goyal. She elaborated upon the close interactions and meetings she had her and went on to accuse Siya of betraying and lying to them.“My son is no more. Siya and her boyfriend are entirely responsible for it. She (Siya) betrayed me and lied. There was nothing suspicious; we didn’t have a single doubt. I met her many times, and we went shopping and out for dinner together frequently, yet it never crossed our minds that she could be this kind of person. I demand the death penalty for those involved in the incident.” Ketan’s mother said, her words reflecting the anguish of a family devastated by a loss they never saw coming.The case, which was initially treated as an accidental fall during a birthday trek, has since been transformed into a murder investigation, leading to Siya and her alleged partner, Chetan Babulal Chaudhary’s arrest.Also read | How fiancée Siya Goyal, lover plotted Pune realtor Ketan Agrawal’s murder

Police allege a planned murder

Police on Tuesday said the death was no accident. According to superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Sandip Singh Gill, investigators found the circumstances surrounding the incident suspicious and began examining several angles, including personal relationships and possible motives.During the probe, officers allegedly discovered that Goyal was involved in a relationship with Chaudhary, a 22-year-old resident of Kondhwa in Pune. Police believe the pair conspired to eliminate Agrawal and carefully planned the outing to Lohagad Fort as part of the plot.Investigators allege that Goyal persuaded Agrawal, her fiancé, to join a trek organised ahead of her upcoming birthday celebrations. Chaudhary was later called to the location, and the two allegedly pushed Agrawal into the deep gorge, causing his death.Also read | How Lohagad Fort CCTV and suspect’s photo in hoodie nailed Siya Goyal’s lie

Murder case registered, arrests made

Following a complaint lodged by Ketan’s father, Vishal Agrawal, Lonavala rural police registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Both accused have been arrested, and further investigations are under way.The revelations have sent shockwaves through both families, particularly because the couple were expected to marry later this year. According to sources, extensive wedding preparations had already been completed, including the booking of a palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan, for the ceremony.What makes the tragedy even more painful for Ketan’s family is the trust they had placed in Goyal. By her mother’s own account, she had been welcomed into the family and shared countless moments with them before the alleged betrayal came to light.In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Goyal had reportedly told police that Agrawal slipped and fell while taking photographs amid strong winds at the historic fort. On the basis of that account, an accidental death report was initially registered.Also read | Ketan Agrawal’s family saw what Pune police missed in Lohagad Fort ‘mishap’However, investigators continued to scrutinise the circumstances surrounding the fall. Acting on emerging suspicions, the local crime branch detained Chaudhary, who allegedly disclosed details of the plot during questioning. The information led to Goyal’s arrest and the case being reclassified as murder.Police said they are now working to establish the precise sequence of events, collect forensic evidence and determine whether any other individuals were involved in the alleged conspiracy.For Ketan’s family, however, the investigation cannot erase the void left behind. A young businessman, a son and a man preparing for his wedding has been lost, leaving behind a family mourning not only his death but also the collapse of the future they believed awaited him.