Scooter, Hoodie and Secret Code: Investigation Reveals Weeks-Long Plot Behind Ketan Agarwal's Murder at Lohagad Fort

The investigation into the murder of 26-year-old Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort in Pune has uncovered what police believe was a meticulously planned conspiracy executed over several weeks. Investigators allege that Ketan's fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, carefully selected the murder location, conducted a rehearsal, devised coded signals, and took multiple precautions to avoid detection before allegedly pushing him into a 400-foot gorge.

According to the investigation, Chetan deliberately travelled to Lohagad Fort on a scooter instead of using a car to avoid toll plazas and surveillance cameras. Police sources said the scooter has now been seized as part of the investigation. After the incident, Chetan allegedly returned to Pune on the same scooter in an attempt to evade investigators.

Police also found that Chetan attempted to conceal his identity by wearing a hoodie during the trek despite the temperature being approximately 33 degrees Celsius. He also wore a headset over the hoodie. However, investigators said the unusual clothing attracted their attention and ultimately became a crucial clue in identifying him.

Surveillance camera footage from the fort allegedly shows Ketan and Siya walking together while Chetan followed them at a distance of approximately 20 to 30 feet. Police said the suspicious appearance of the man wearing a hoodie in extreme heat prompted further investigation, eventually leading to his identification.

The investigation has further revealed that Siya and Chetan had finalised the alleged murder plan by the end of May. Police sources said the two had visited Lohagad Fort in advance to identify the location for the crime and had even conducted a rehearsal before carrying out the alleged murder.

Investigators said the accused had agreed upon a coded signal before the incident. The code phrase, translated as "sit down," was to indicate the exact moment when Ketan would be pushed into the gorge. According to police sources, Siya was expected to crouch in front of Ketan under the pretext of drinking water or tying her shoelaces. This act was intended to serve as the final signal for Chetan to launch the attack while also preventing Ketan from grabbing Siya in an attempt to save himself.

Police have also examined the communication records of the accused and found that Siya and Chetan allegedly spoke over the telephone 34 minutes before the murder. Investigators believe Siya informed Chetan of her precise location at a viewpoint inside the fort and confirmed that no other visitors were present nearby.

On Sunday, police took Siya to Lohagad Fort and recreated the crime scene using a dummy to verify the sequence of events and reconstruct the alleged murder.

Ketan Agarwal, who served as the Director and Chief Marketing Officer of the family-owned real estate company Success Group, was found dead at the bottom of a 400-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort on June 18. His death was initially treated as an accidental fall. However, the subsequent investigation led police to conclude that he had been deliberately pushed to his death.

The investigation has also uncovered what police describe as an earlier failed attempt to kill Ketan. According to investigators, Siya and Ketan first visited Lohagad Fort on May 31. Four days later, on June 4, Siya insisted on returning to the fort, but Ketan's mother refused to allow the visit. On June 14, Siya allegedly persuaded Ketan to visit the fort again. Police claim she attempted to push him from a cliff during that visit, but he managed to survive by holding onto a bush. When Ketan questioned why she had pushed him, Siya allegedly claimed that she had seen a snake and had acted to protect him.

The investigation has transformed what initially appeared to be an accidental death into a sensational murder case. Police continue to examine the evidence, including surveillance footage, communication records, the reconstructed crime scene, and the seized scooter, as they build their case against the two accused.