In a high-profile investigation unfolding in Maharashtra, authorities are employing advanced forensic techniques to probe the death of a 25-year-old Pune realtor, which was initially treated as a tragic accident but has since been reclassified as a suspected murder.
Ketan Agarwal, a director in his family’s real estate business and resident of Pune’s Lodha Belmondo in Gahunje, was visiting Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on June 18 with his fiancée, Siya Goyal, to mark her birthday. Goyal initially informed police that Agarwal had slipped and fallen while posing for photographs near the edge of the fort. An accidental death report was filed accordingly.
The case took a significant turn days later when investigators arrested Goyal and a 22-year-old man, Chetan Chaudhary, on suspicion of murder. Authorities allege the pair plotted to kill Agarwal. Chaudhary, described as Goyal’s boyfriend, drew scrutiny after CCTV footage captured him near the fort’s foothills wearing a hoodie in hot weather, an action police believe was intended to conceal his identity.
Central to the ongoing probe is “gait analysis,” a method that examines an individual’s unique walking patterns including stride length, posture, and limb movements to match suspects with footage from crime scenes. Police plan to have Chaudhary wear a similar hoodie and retrace the route captured in the CCTV while recording a new video for direct comparison. This recreation aims to verify whether his movements align with those of the hooded figure in the original recording.
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Further developments include a crime scene reconstruction at the fort, during which Goyal was reportedly taken to the location and used a human-sized dummy to demonstrate events. According to police, she indicated sitting down as a signal for Chaudhary to push Agarwal from the cliff.
In court proceedings, lawyers for both accused raised challenges. One representing Goyal argued her arrest lacked sufficient grounds, while Chaudhary’s counsel noted the limited details of his client’s involvement in the initial complaint. A separate incident at the court involved another advocate claiming representation of Goyal, presenting documentation that her family and she disputed, affirming her existing legal counsel.
Investigators have sought extended custody of both suspects until July 3 to pursue additional leads, including pinpointing the precise location of the incident and locating Agarwal’s missing passport. The couple had become engaged in February through family arrangements, with a November wedding planned in Udaipur. Goyal comes from an affluent Pune business family, as does Chaudhary’s, with operations in the same district.
The case continues to draw attention as forensic and reconstructive efforts seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding Agarwal’s death.