No Eyewitnesses, No CCTV: Pune Police Build Strong Digital Evidence in Ketan Agarwal Murder Probe to Avoid Sonam Raghuvanshi-Type Lapses
Pune Rural Police are taking extra precautions while preparing the chargesheet in the murder case of businessman Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort, determined to avoid the procedural shortcomings that played a role in Meghalaya honeymoon murder accused Sonam Raghuvanshi securing bail, top Maharashtra Police sources told Media.
Investigators are seeking to conduct a polygraph (lie detector) test on Ketan’s fiancée and the prime accused, Siya Goyal. Officials clarify that the move is not intended to produce evidence admissible in court but to generate investigative leads that can later be independently verified through digital or forensic material.
According to police sources, the approach has been shaped by lessons from the Sonam Raghuvanshi case, where procedural deficiencies during the arrest process ultimately led to bail being granted and later upheld by the high court. Investigators say they are determined to prevent similar technical lapses from affecting their case against Siya.
Polygraph Seen as an Investigative Tool
Under Indian law, polygraph examination results are not accepted as substantive evidence in court. However, investigators maintain that such tests can help uncover fresh information that may lead to legally admissible evidence.
Senior Maharashtra Police sources said officers believe questioning during the examination could reveal previously unknown details. For example, if Siya were to mention researching the height of the cliff at Lohagad Fort or refer to digital activity not already known to investigators, police could independently recover and verify that information through lawful procedures.
Officials say evidence such as browser history, deleted internet searches, location records or other digital footprints could become admissible if obtained independently, even though the polygraph responses themselves cannot be used as evidence.
“The objective is not to rely on the polygraph report in court but to identify hidden facts that can later be supported through legally admissible digital and forensic evidence,” a senior police source said.
Investigation Hinges on Circumstantial Evidence
Police acknowledge that the investigation faces major evidentiary hurdles. There are no eyewitnesses who saw Ketan being pushed from the cliff, and no CCTV footage captures the alleged incident.
According to police sources, available CCTV footage only places co-accused and Siya’s alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, near the location wearing a hoodie. Investigators say this footage alone is insufficient to prove murder.
Officers have also recreated the alleged incident using a dummy, but privately admit that such demonstrations have limited evidentiary value.
“The way a dummy falls depends on factors such as weight distribution, angle and velocity. It cannot scientifically establish whether the victim was intentionally pushed or accidentally slipped,” a source said.
Given these limitations, investigators describe the case as entirely circumstantial, requiring every piece of evidence to form an unbroken chain capable of proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Digital and Forensic Evidence at the Centre of Probe
Investigators say the prosecution’s primary theory is that Siya and Chetan conspired to kill Ketan because Siya allegedly wanted to avoid marrying him.
With that theory in focus, police are collecting digital, forensic and circumstantial evidence that they believe will support the alleged conspiracy before filing the chargesheet.
Officials are examining mobile phone records, digital search history and other electronic evidence that could indicate planning or premeditation. According to sources, obtaining independently verifiable digital evidence has become the investigation’s highest priority.
Police Stress Importance of an Unbroken Chain of Evidence
Investigators admit the prosecution’s case will largely depend on establishing a complete and uninterrupted chain of circumstances.
“If the defence succeeds in breaking even one important link in that chain, the prosecution’s case could weaken substantially,” a senior officer said, comparing the matter with other high-profile circumstantial cases that encountered difficulties in court because of evidentiary gaps. Police say this is one of the reasons they are proceeding cautiously before submitting the final chargesheet.
Sonam Raghuvanshi Case Serves as a Warning
According to police sources, the recent Sonam Raghuvanshi case, in which she is accused of murdering her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, has highlighted the importance of strict compliance with procedures laid down under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In that case, the prosecution faced setbacks after the court identified procedural shortcomings. The bail order noted that police did not clearly communicate the factual grounds of arrest to the accused at the time of detention. It also pointed out that the arrest memo and related documents mentioned Section 403(1) of the BNS, dealing with dishonest misappropriation of property, instead of Section 103(1), the provision under which the murder investigation was being conducted.
The court observed that these deficiencies affected the accused’s constitutional right to defend herself effectively during the early stage of the investigation, leading to the grant of bail, which was later upheld by the high court.
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Police sources say the case has become a reminder that public opinion and media attention cannot substitute for procedural compliance.
“Courts decide cases on evidence and legality. Even a minor clerical error or failure to follow the prescribed legal procedure can become a significant advantage for the defence,” a senior Maharashtra Police source told Media.
With no eyewitnesses and no direct video evidence, Pune Rural Police are focusing on ensuring every procedural requirement is followed while strengthening the digital and forensic evidence they believe will be central to their case against Siya.