GUWAHATI: What was initially believed to be a tragic trekking accident at Maharashtra's Lohagad Fort has now turned into a suspected murder case, with police arresting a Pune woman and her alleged lover for the death of her fiancé.
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Ketan Vishal Agrawal, 26, a real estate director and son of construction businessman Vishal Agrawal, died after falling nearly 400 feet into a gorge at Lohagad Fort near Pune on June 18. Initially, police treated the incident as an accidental death after his fiancée, Siya Goyal, claimed he had slipped while taking photographs amid strong winds. Agarwal served as a director in his family's company, Success Group, a major warehouse development firm with a significant presence across Maharashtra.
However, investigators later found inconsistencies in the account and launched a deeper probe.
According to Pune Rural Police, the investigation revealed that Goyal was allegedly in a relationship with Chetan Babulal Chaudhary (22), a resident of Kondhwa in Pune. Police claim the two conspired to kill Agrawal as they viewed him as an obstacle to their relationship.
Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill reportedly said that investigators examined several angles, including personal relationships and possible motives.
During the probe, Chaudhary was detained for questioning and allegedly confessed to the murder plot.
Police allege that Goyal persuaded Agrawal to visit Lohagad Fort, a popular trekking destination near Pune. Chaudhary was allegedly called to the location later, and the pair then pushed Agrawal into the gorge before attempting to portray the incident as an accident.
Both Goyal and Chaudhary have now been arrested.
The investigation has also uncovered an alleged earlier attempt on Agrawal's life. Police claim that on June 14, Goyal tried to push him off a cliff, but he managed to grab a bush and survive. Investigators said she then allegedly raised an alarm about a snake and presented herself as having saved him.
Agrawal and Goyal got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry in November. According to Agrawal's father, preparations for the wedding were already underway, including booking a palace in Jaipur and arranging private aircraft for guests.
The victim's father has also alleged that Goyal previously sabotaged a planned pre-wedding trip to Bali by ensuring Agrawal's passport went missing, forcing the trip to be cancelled. He further claimed that she later insisted on visiting Lohagad Fort.
Police are continuing their investigation into the case and are examining all aspects of the alleged conspiracy.