Lonavala:What first appeared to be a tragic accident at Lohagad Fort has now become a murder investigation that has gripped Maharashtra.
Ketan Agarwal, a 26 year old businessman ,died after falling into a gorge during a trip to the popular fort near Lonavala on June 18. In the immediate aftermath, the incident was believed to be an accident. His fiancee Siya Goyal, reportedly told police that he had slipped while the two were near the edge of the fort.
But as investigators began piecing together the events of that day, the story took a dramatic turn.
A key breakthrough came from CCTV footage collected from multiple locations. Police say they were able to trace movements over a 48 min period, helping them reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to Agarwal’s death. The footage allegedly pointed investigators towards people whose presence had not been highlighted earlier, prompting a closer look at the case.
Among them was Chetan Chaudhary, who is now under investigation along with Goyal. According to police, digital evidence and surveillance footage suggested there was more to the incident than a simple fall.
Investigators also started examining Goyal’s statements. Officials claim some details changed as the probe progressed, raising questions about the original account of what happened at the fort. Those questions became even more significant when phone records and other electronic evidence were brought into the investigation.
As the probe widened, police began looking into the relationship between Goyal and Chaudhary. Investigators are exploring whether personal factors, including the upcoming marriage and the nature of their association, could have played a role in the events of June 18.
The case grew even more intriguing when police started reviewing reports of earlier visits to Lohagad Fort. Investigators are examining whether incidents that were previously considered accidental could have any connection to Agarwal’s death.
Throughout the investigation, Agarwal’s family maintained that the accident theory did not fully explain what had happened. Their repeated calls for a deeper probe gained momentum as fresh evidence emerged.
For now, investigators continue to analyse CCTV footage, phone records and witness statements. While many questions remain unanswered, one thing is clear a case that began as a reported trekking mishap has evolved into one of the state’s most closely watched criminal investigations, with every new detail adding another layer to the mystery surrounding Ketan Agarwal’s final moments.
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