the couple viewed Agarwal's death as a way to "buy time"
Siya Goyal allegedly killed her fiancé, Ketan Agarwal, to gain “three years of freedom” with her lover before marrying him, according to new findings in the ongoing investigation into his death.
Police allege that Goyal and her co-accused, Chetan Chaudhary, began plotting Agarwal’s murder as early as February 2026.
Investigators believe the pair planned to delay marriage pressures by orchestrating Agarwal’s death, allowing Chaudhary time to establish his career while Goyal remained unmarried during the family’s mourning period.
Agarwal died after falling into a gorge at Lohagad Fort in Maharashtra’s Pune district.
According to investigators, Chaudhary had asked Goyal to wait at least three years before they married because he wanted to focus on his career.
However, Goyal’s marriage to Agarwal had already been arranged and was scheduled to take place in November.
Police believe the couple viewed Agarwal’s death as a way to “buy time”, with plans to marry each other after the mourning period had passed.
Investigators have also alleged that Goyal told them it was “easier” to kill her fiancé than tell her family she no longer wanted to marry him.
According to police, Goyal allegedly said she did not want to upset her family by ending the engagement. Investigators are continuing to verify those statements.
Goyal had allegedly informed Agarwal that she did not wish to marry him, but he refused to call off the engagement.
Investigators claim she then conspired with Chaudhary to kill him.
According to investigators, the alleged conspiracy involved extensive planning and preparation.
Police claim Goyal and Chaudhary searched online for killing methods and travelled to Lohagad Fort before the alleged murder to rehearse the crime.
Investigators also allege the pair prepared responses they would give police if questioned and planned to disguise themselves to avoid suspicion.
Authorities further claim that both suspects deleted their phone chat histories and emptied their recycle bins before and after the incident.
Their devices have since been sent for forensic examination to recover deleted data.
Investigators have also revealed that the pair had devised a “Plan C” should their original plans fail.
According to investigators, on May 31, Siya Goyal accompanied Ketan Agarwal to the fort and identified a secluded area near the Vinchu Kata ridge where the crime could be carried out.
A second visit planned for June 4 was allegedly cancelled after Agarwal’s mother objected.
Investigators claim that on June 14, Goyal attempted to push Agarwal from a cliff. However, he reportedly survived after grabbing onto a bush.
Police allege Goyal then created a distraction by shouting about a snake sighting before comforting Agarwal and convincing him the incident had been accidental.
According to investigators, she regained his trust and persuaded him to return to the fort four days later.
Police allege that on June 18, Goyal and Chaudhary pushed Agarwal from behind into a 350-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort in Maharashtra’s Maval taluka, causing his death.
Investigators have also claimed that Goyal discarded Agarwal’s passport on June 6 as part of the preparations for the alleged murder.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Pune Rural Police questioned Goyal’s brother, Sahil Goyal.
Investigators sought to establish whether he knew about Goyal’s relationship with Chaudhary and whether he had informed other family members.
Police believe Goyal’s family became aware of her relationship with Chaudhary during a community cricket tournament in January.
Investigators suspect differences in the financial status of the two families influenced the decision to arrange her marriage to Agarwal.
The investigation has also uncovered additional evidence that police are examining.
An employee at Chaudhary’s store allegedly told investigators that Chaudhary left his own mobile phone behind on the day of the alleged murder and instead carried the employee’s device to the fort.
Police have also obtained CCTV footage from a Pune cafe, which they claim shows Goyal and Chaudhary meeting multiple times between May 31 and June 4.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue questioning family members, associates and the two accused to establish the full sequence of events surrounding Agarwal’s death.
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