Pune, July 3 (IANS) Amid the ongoing investigation into the murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal, the uncle of accused Chetan Chaudhary on Friday claimed that he had never seen his nephew interacting closely with any girl and described him as a sincere and well-behaved young man.

Speaking to IANS, Udaram Chaudhary said, “We are hearing many things in the media, but our family knows the reality. Chetan lived in our neighbourhood. I have never seen him sitting in a car with any girl or talking to any girl. Even among our regular customers, no one ever noticed anything like this. I have never seen Chetan going aside to speak with any girl.”

Expressing his disbelief over the allegations, he added, “It came as a huge shock to us because Chetan was a very sincere boy. He was simple in nature, always smiling, and friendly with everyone. He was also an excellent cricketer. He was an outstanding player, and many people would come just to watch him bat because of his powerful shots.”

Udaram Chaudhary further said that the family has been living in Pune for decades.

“I have been here for the last 15 years, while Chetan’s father has been living in Pune for more than 35 years. They run a dry fruits business, and I used to help them whenever needed,” he told IANS.

According to the police, Ketan Agarwal was allegedly pushed to his death from a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune by his fiancee, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary. The investigation has revealed that the accused had allegedly searched online for ways to kill Ketan before carrying out the crime.

Police also claimed that Siya and Chetan had visited Lohagad Fort before the incident to allegedly rehearse the murder. Investigators further alleged that the duo had prepared and practised their responses in case they were questioned by the police after the crime.

Meanwhile, the prime accused, Siya Goyal, sparked controversy after she was caught on camera making an obscene gesture towards media personnel while being escorted by the police during the investigation.

A video shared by IANS showed Siya being taken out of her residence in Pune’s Market Yard area on Thursday. Dressed in a black T-shirt with a printed scarf covering her face, she briefly looked at the reporters gathered outside before raising her middle finger at the cameras.

The video quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism from users, many of whom described her behaviour as insensitive and inappropriate given the serious charges she is facing.

–IANS

jk/rad