The Vadgaon Maval Magistrate Court, Pune, on June 29, 2025, extended the police custody of accused Siya Goyal (20) and Chetan Chaudhary (22) by five more days till July 3, 2025, in the murder case of 26-year-old real estate executive Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala.
The extension came upon prosecution’s submission that the investigation into the alleged murder conspiracy remains at a crucial stage, according to LawBeat.
Background & Case History
Ketan Agarwal, a Pune-based real estate executive, died on June 18, 2025, after being allegedly pushed into a deep gorge at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala. What initially appeared to be an accidental trekking fall was subsequently reclassified as murder following a police investigation.
Siya Goyal was Ketan’s fiancée; the couple had been engaged in February 2025 and were scheduled to marry in November 2025, per The Federal. Chetan Chaudhary is alleged to have been Siya’s lover and co-conspirator in the killing.
The case was registered at Lonavala Rural Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder and criminal conspiracy, following an FIR filed by the victim’s father, Vishal Devichand Agarwal, on June 23, 2025, as reported by Great Andhra.
- February 2025 (approx.): Ketan Agarwal and Siya Goyal get engaged at a hotel in Pune.
- June 14, 2025: An alleged first attempt to push Ketan off Lohagad Fort takes place; Ketan survives by grabbing a bush.
- June 18, 2025: Ketan Agarwal is allegedly pushed into a gorge at Lohagad Fort and is declared dead at a hospital.
- June 23, 2025: FIR filed by Ketan’s father; Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary are arrested; the court remands them to seven days of police custody.
- June 29, 2025: Vadgaon Maval Magistrate Court extends custody of both accused by five more days till July 3, 2025.
Arguments & Submissions
The prosecution before the Vadgaon Maval Magistrate Court submitted that the investigation was at a crucial stage and that several aspects of the alleged conspiracy still remained to be examined, according to LawBeat.
Police specifically sought the custody extension to recreate the crime scene with both accused at Lohagad Fort, trace Chetan Chaudhary’s movements after the incident, examine phone conversations exchanged following the murder, and recover evidence linked to the alleged destruction of Ketan’s passport, as reported by The Statesman.
Investigators highlighted the volume and pattern of communication between the two accused as central to the conspiracy. According to The Statesman, police allege Siya and Chetan exchanged more than 2,000 phone calls over six months, totalling nearly 238 hours. Siya allegedly called Chetan approximately 34 minutes before Ketan’s death — a call police believe was the final coordination before the alleged murder, per Great Andhra.
The Ruling: Key Findings
The Vadgaon Maval Magistrate Court accepted the prosecution’s submissions and extended the police custody of both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary by five more days, setting the new expiry date as July 3, 2025, according to LiveLaw.
The original seven-day remand had been granted by the court on June 23, 2025 — the same day both accused were arrested — and had run its course by the time the extension was sought, per LiveLaw.
Separately, police have already conducted a crime scene recreation exercise with co-accused Chetan Chaudhary at Lohagad Fort, as reported by The Statesman. The scooter Chetan allegedly used to travel approximately 90 kilometres from Pune to the fort — a route chosen to avoid detection at toll plazas — has been seized by police.
An unnamed police official told PTI: “The signal was chosen deliberately so that Goyal would not be within the victim’s reach during the fatal push.” An unnamed Pune Rural Police official also stated: “We are investigating whether any crucial evidence was deleted or tampered with while the phone was in her possession.”
Legal Analysis & Implications
The case is registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with murder and premeditated murder, and Section 61 of the BNS, which governs criminal conspiracy, per LiveLaw and Great Andhra.
The BNS, which replaced the Indian Penal Code, carries stringent provisions for premeditated and conspiracy-driven offences. The invocation of both murder and criminal conspiracy sections signals that prosecution intends to argue a planned and coordinated killing rather than a crime of passion.
The volume of alleged pre-incident communication — over 2,000 calls across six months and a call made just 34 minutes before the death — is likely to form a cornerstone of the digital evidence trail. Police are also investigating alleged destruction of evidence, including deletion of chats and tampering with the victim’s passport, which could support additional charges.
The Maharashtra government’s decision to constitute a fast-track court for the trial underscores the public interest and media attention the case has attracted, and signals an intent to conclude proceedings expeditiously.
Reactions & Stakeholder Response
The victim’s father, Vishal Devichand Agarwal, met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis following Ketan’s death, and the Chief Minister assured that the trial would be fast-tracked, according to the pre-verified research.
The Maharashtra government followed through by approving a fast-track court for the case and appointing Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam as Special Public Prosecutor, per The Statesman. Nikam is one of Maharashtra’s most prominent criminal prosecutors, known for handling high-profile criminal trials in the state.
Prior to the incident, Ketan Agarwal had reportedly voiced concerns to his family about suspecting his fiancée of an affair, according to the Free Press Journal — a detail that investigators say adds context to the alleged motive behind the conspiracy.
What’s Next
The police custody of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary is set to expire on July 3, 2025. Investigators are expected to complete the crime scene recreation, trace the movement of both accused, and examine digital evidence including deleted chats and phone records before that date.
Once police custody expires, the prosecution is likely to seek judicial custody or file a chargesheet, depending on the progress of the investigation. The establishment of a fast-track court means trial proceedings could commence with greater urgency once the chargesheet is filed.
Full coverage: LiveLaw. More legal news at The Courtroom.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
