Ketan Agarwal Murder Case: Accused Conducted ‘Practice Sessions’ At Lohagad Fort Before Alleged Murder, Police Claim
Ketan Agarwal Murder Case: Accused Conducted ‘Practice Sessions’ At Lohagad Fort Before Alleged Murder, Police Claim
Pune, June 29, 2026: The investigation into the alleged murder of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal has uncovered what police describe as a meticulously planned conspiracy, with investigators claiming that the two accused visited Lohagad Fort in advance to identify the crime spot and conduct “practice sessions” before carrying out the murder.
According to police, prime accused Siya Goyal (20) and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary (22) carefully planned every aspect of the crime, including selecting the location, deciding on a signal to execute the attack and ensuring Goyal remained out of harm’s way during the incident.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Pune Rural Police took Siya Goyal to Lohagad Fort on Sunday to recreate the crime scene using a fibre dummy. The exercise was conducted to establish the sequence of events leading to the death of Ketan Agarwal.
Investigators said both accused have allegedly admitted that they had visited the fort before the incident to identify a suitable location and carry out “practice sessions” for the alleged murder. Police said they are still trying to determine the exact location where the alleged rehearsal took place.
According to the investigation, Goyal was instructed to signal Chaudhary by sitting down, either on the pretext of drinking water or tying her shoelaces. Once she sat down, Chaudhary was allegedly to approach from behind and push Agarwal off the cliff.
Police said the signal was deliberately chosen to keep Goyal out of the victim’s reach during the alleged attack. Investigators believe the accused feared that if Agrawal tried to grab Goyal while falling into the gorge, she too could have fallen, and the plan was designed to prevent that possibility.
The investigation has also revealed that Chaudhary allegedly took several precautions to avoid leaving evidence of his movements. Instead of travelling by car, he reportedly rode a scooter nearly 90 kilometres from Pune to Lohagad Fort on the morning of June 18, fearing that toll plaza records could trace a car’s movement. Police have seized the scooter as part of the investigation.
Investigators further alleged that Chaudhary changed his appearance after reaching the fort. According to police, he climbed the fort wearing a hoodie, later removed it and remained in a black T-shirt during the incident, before wearing the hoodie again while leaving. Investigators believe the change in clothing was intended to avoid attracting attention or being identified.
Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to murder 25-year-old Ketan Agrawal by pushing him into a deep gorge at Lohagad Fort on June 18. The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations made by police are yet to be tested before the court.
