Mumbai, June 23 (IANS) The death of Pune-based Ketan Agarwal, a 24-year-old man from a business family, during a trek at Lohagad near Lonavala has taken a new turn.

The case, which was initially treated as a fatal mishap, is turning out to be a cold-blooded murder conspiracy. The police investigation has raised suspicion of a murder plot, and based on the CCTV footage, call detail records, and technical analysis, it has now registered a murder case.

Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill, briefing the press about the June 18 incident, said that the couple, Siya Goyal and Ketan Agarwal, who had got engaged in February, went to visit Lohagad Fort. It was around 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. on the fateful day that Siya Goyal called to report that Ketan Agarwal had slipped and fallen from the fort, resulting in his death.

He added that upon receiving the information, security guards, police, and the families of both the fiancee and the deceased rushed to the scene, and a case was registered at the police station on the same day. The initial findings by police pointed to various conflicting circumstances, raising doubts over the nature of the incident.

Ketan’s family members told the police during the investigation that he was a trained and experienced trekker and was unlikely to falter at such moments of happiness. As the police grew suspicious of the fiancee’s claims, they dug deep into the matter.

SP Sandeep Singh Gill further said that confidential sources and continued investigation revealed that Siya Goyal had a friend named Chetan Chaudhary, and her family business is located at the Market Yard, where Chetan also runs a shop. The two had known each other for about a year.

Police found in its probe that the duo hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Ketan Agarwal and executed the plan accordingly at Lohagad Fort. Ketan Agarwal didn’t fall on his own but was pushed from the Fort, leading to his death.

According to police, a murder case was registered, and Siya and Chetan were taken into custody. Both are also believed to have confessed to the crime during interrogation; however, the police are yet to conclude the probe.

–IANS

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