Accused Siya Goyal allegedly told Pune Rural Police that killing her fiance Ketan Agarwal felt simpler than facing her own family with the truth — that she did not want the wedding to happen at all.
A murder case out of Pune district has taken a dark, almost confessional turn after police claimed the prime accused told investigators that ending her fiancé’s life felt easier than simply telling her family she had cold feet about the marriage.
The case centres on the death of 26-year-old businessman Ketan Agarwal, who fell nearly 400 feet into a gorge near Lohagad Fort on June 18. His fiancée, 22-year-old Siya Goyal, initially told police he had slipped while taking photographs. That account has since collapsed entirely. Investigators now call it a premeditated conspiracy, and Goyal, along with her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, was arrested on June 23 on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.
‘It Was Easier To Kill Him’
According to Pune Rural Police, Goyal made the startling admission during custodial interrogation. Investigators say she told them she found it easier to push Ketan off the fort than to tell her parents she wanted out of the engagement — because she did not want to hurt them.
“I did not want to hurt my family, so I did not tell them I wanted to call it off.”
Police say Goyal also cited a more trivial irritation — that she disliked Ketan because he wore a hairpiece. Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, has firmly rejected that as a motive, telling reporters that his son wore only a small hair patch, something the Goyal family was reportedly informed of well before the engagement was finalised. “A wig cannot be a reason for murder,” he has said.
How The Plot Allegedly Came Together
Investigators allege that Goyal had already told Ketan she did not wish to marry him, but he refused to call off the engagement. That refusal, police say, is when she turned to Chaudhary — the man she had reportedly been seeing for months — to plan a way out.
According to the police version of events, the pair met at a cafe on the day of the killing to firm up the plan and pick the precise spot at Lohagad Fort from which Ketan would be pushed. The relationship between Goyal and Chaudhary, police say, had been going on for months before the murder, and the two had travelled together on more than one occasion, including a trip Chaudhary arranged to his hometown of Jodhpur.
The Key Players
- Ketan Agarwal, 26 — Businessman and director at his family’s real estate firm, was killed at Lohagad Fort on June 18.
- Siya Goyal, 22 — Ketan’s fiancée; prime accused; arrested June 23.
- Chetan Chaudhary, 22–25 — Goyal’s alleged lover and co-accused; a Kondhwa resident originally from Jodhpur, Rajasthan; arrested alongside Goyal.
- Sahil Goyal — Siya’s brother; questioned for over 10 hours by police over what he knew of the affair.
A Family Divided Over Money — And Loyalty
Police investigating the case say Goyal’s family first learned of her closeness with Chaudhary during a local cricket tournament back in January. Investigators believe a stark financial gap between the two families may have pushed Goyal’s parents to push ahead with her match to Ketan, a businessman, despite her reservations.
Her brother, Sahil Goyal, was questioned for more than ten hours at Pune district police headquarters as investigators tried to establish how much he knew — and whether he had warned anyone else in the family. By his own account to the police, he had known about the affair for months and had urged his sister to end it, given that she was already engaged to Ketan.
Families React, CM Steps In
The case has now drawn political attention. Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Pune on Friday, June 26, demanding swift justice and a fast-tracked trial. The Chief Minister reportedly assured him the state government would push for the strictest possible punishment for those found guilty.
Goyal’s own family has not stayed silent either. Her mother has been quoted as making an extraordinary statement of her own, saying that if her daughter is indeed found guilty, she should be thrown from the very same fort.
Timeline Of The Case
- June 18, 2026, Ketan Agarwal dies after falling nearly 400 feet near Lohagad Fort, Lonavala. Goyal initially claims he slipped while taking photos.
- Following days, the police probe inconsistencies in Goyal’s account; rescue and forensic teams confirm injuries inconsistent with an accidental fall.
- June 23, 2026, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary are arrested on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.
- June 26, 2026 (Friday) Police question Sahil Goyal for over 10 hours; Ketan’s father meets CM Devendra Fadnavis to demand a fast-track trial.
- June 27, 2026: Details of Goyal’s alleged custodial confession become public, intensifying coverage of the case.
What Happens Next
With both accused now in custody, the investigation is moving toward establishing a formal chargesheet. Police are continuing to question family members and associates on both sides to nail down the exact sequence of events — from when the affair began to how the final plan at Lohagad Fort was executed. Given the Chief Minister’s direct involvement and the family’s push for a fast-track trial, the case appears headed for swift judicial attention once the probe concludes.
This report is based on statements attributed to Pune Rural Police and family members as reported in the press. Allegations against the accused are yet to be tested in court, and all individuals named are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
