Pune : What was first believed to be a tragic trekking accident at Pune’s Lohagad Fort has now turned into a murder case. The breakthrough came after police noticed a man wearing a hoodie on a hot June day when temperatures were around 33°C. CCTV footage from June 18 showed 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary following Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal, 26, and his fiancée Siya Goyal, 20, near the fort.
Police later found that Chetan had left his mobile phone at his workplace on the day of the incident and had switched off internet services on the device. Investigators believe he did this to avoid being tracked. Initially, Ketan’s death was treated as an accident. However, while reviewing CCTV footage, officers noticed suspicious behaviour. In one clip, Siya suddenly looked behind her, and the hooded man immediately sat down, seemingly trying to avoid being noticed.
According to investigators, Chetan was not seen arriving with Siya’s group. They believe he secretly followed them and used an employee’s phone while leaving his own phone behind. His internet connection reportedly remained switched off from 7 am to 5:40 pm. When police questioned people who called Chetan that day, they learned that his shop workers answered the calls instead of him.
Investigators allege that when the group reached a cliff area at Lohagad Fort, Chetan approached them from behind. Soon after, Ketan fell nearly 400 feet into a gorge and died. Siya called the police and reported that Ketan had accidentally slipped while taking photographs near the valley due to strong winds. Based on her statement, police initially registered an accidental death case.
As the investigation continued, police examined call records and digital evidence. They found thousands of phone calls between Siya and Chetan, including several conversations lasting for hours. Police say this evidence showed a close relationship between the two and pointed towards a planned conspiracy. Investigators also compared Chetan’s photographs and social media images with the CCTV footage and concluded that he was the hooded man seen at the fort.
The motive was Siya’s relationship with Chetan and her alleged unwillingness to marry Ketan. During questioning, police asked why the pair did not simply run away together. Investigators claim Chetan said Siya did not want to cancel the wedding because she feared it would bring shame to her family. Ketan and Siya got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry in November in Udaipur. A palace venue had already been booked for the wedding.
Investigators also learned from Ketan’s relatives that Siya repeatedly encouraged him to visit Lohagad Fort. She had taken him there on May 31 and wanted to return on June 4, but his mother stopped him. Police further allege that Siya tried to push Ketan off the cliff on June 14, but he managed to save himself by grabbing a bush. When he questioned her, she reportedly claimed there was a snake nearby and acted as though she had helped him.
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