‘No One Saw What Happened’: Siya Goyal’s Lawyer Denies Direct Evidence In Ketan Agarwal Murder Case

Pune: Claiming that investigators have not yet established any direct evidence against his client, advocate Ashutosh Srivastava on Wednesday said there was neither an eyewitness nor any independent witness to prove that Siya Goyal was responsible for the death of her fiancé and realtor Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Srivastava said the case was initially registered as an accidental death before police later converted it into a murder investigation after suspecting a conspiracy. However, he argued that the investigation was still in progress and that no corroborative evidence had so far been produced to establish his client’s involvement.

“I don’t think there’s any independent witness or eyewitness who can say that he or she saw that happening. Neither there’s any corroborative evidence that proves that my client did it,” Srivastava told PTI.

He further said Goyal was fully cooperating with the investigation and would continue to assist the police.

“As far as Siya is concerned, she is fully cooperating with the investigating agency in every possible way so that the police can arrive at a proper conclusion and file a comprehensive chargesheet with complete clarity. This will also assist the trial court in effectively conducting the proceedings and ultimately delivering a final judgment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pune Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police Gajanan Tompe said multiple teams were investigating different aspects of the case. He said police had collected technical evidence, examined several witnesses, and questioned numerous people connected to the investigation.

“So far, multiple investigation teams have been formed, and they are working on different aspects of the case. We have gathered some technical evidence and have also examined certain witnesses. Based on all of this, the investigation is currently ongoing. A large number of people have been questioned. Today, Siya’s brother is also being questioned, and some other relatives are also being interrogated,” Tompe said.

Siya Goyal and her alleged boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary, are in police custody in connection with the death of 26-year-old realtor Ketan Agarwal, who died after falling from Lohagad Fort near Pune on June 18. The case was initially registered as an accidental death but was later investigated as a suspected murder.

According to Pune Rural Police, analysis of call detail records and CCTV footage revealed an alleged conspiracy. Investigators claim Goyal and Chaudhary remained in contact for nearly six months, exchanging 2,004 calls and spending around 238 hours speaking over the phone.

Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill said some conversations between the two lasted more than two to three hours, and investigators suspect the communication was linked to planning the alleged crime.

Police have alleged that on the day of the incident, Goyal and Chaudhary met at a café before travelling to Lohagad Fort, where they discussed a plan to eliminate Agarwal. Investigators further claim the duo identified a location from where Agarwal could allegedly be pushed into the valley.

According to police, Goyal and Chaudhary viewed Agarwal as an obstacle to their relationship. Investigators also allege that Goyal had attempted to take Agarwal to Lohagad Fort on multiple occasions before the incident.

Police claim that on May 31, Goyal accompanied Agarwal to Lohagad Fort and allegedly identified a spot near Vinchu Kata ridge. They further allege that she attempted to take him there again on June 4, but the plan failed after Agarwal’s mother objected.

Investigators have also alleged that on June 14, Goyal attempted to push Agarwal off a cliff, but he survived after grabbing onto a bush. Police claim she later convinced him that the incident had been accidental.

Four days later, on June 18, Agarwal allegedly fell into a 350-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort. Police allege that Goyal and Chaudhary were involved in the incident.

Investigators have further alleged that Goyal discarded Agarwal’s passport on June 6 to disrupt a planned pre-wedding trip to Bali.

Police also claim CCTV footage shows Chaudhary, wearing a hoodie, following Goyal and Agarwal at Lohagad Fort, with investigators describing his movements as suspicious.

Chaudhary’s lawyer, Ram Shahane, has denied the allegations, arguing that his client has been falsely implicated. He said the FIR does not specifically describe Chaudhary’s role in the alleged offence and that he has been named primarily because he is alleged to be Goyal’s boyfriend.

Chaudhary’s father, Babulal Chaudhary, has also maintained his son’s innocence, alleging that he is being framed.