PUNE: What was initially reported as a tragic trekking accident at Lohagad Fort on June 18 has now been registered as a case of murder, with police saying persistent doubts raised by the victim’s family proved crucial in unravelling the truth.According to Pune Rural Police, 26-year-old Ketan Agarwal had visited the fort with his fiancée Siya Goyal. Goyal later informed authorities that Agarwal had slipped and fallen nearly 400 feet into a gorge, leading to his death. Based on her initial statement, police registered an accidental death report.However, Agarwal’s family questioned the theory of the accident, pointing out that he was an experienced trekker and familiar with the terrain. Relatives told police that the circumstances surrounding the fall appeared suspicious and unlikely to be a sudden mishap.Acting on the family’s insistence, police initiated a deeper probe and formally recorded a complaint.Pune Rural Police SP Sandeep Singh Gill said subsequent inquiries, including inputs from confidential sources, witness statements and technical evidence, indicated that the fall was not accidental.Investigators uncovered that Goyal had been in contact with a friend, Chetan Chaudhary, for about a year.“During the course of investigation, it came to light that the two conspired to eliminate Agarwal. At Lohagad Fort, he was allegedly pushed, causing him to fall to his death,” Gill said.Police said both Goyal and Chaudhary were taken into custody by the Lonavala Rural Police Station and, during interrogation, confessed to their role in the crime.A murder case has been registered against them, and further investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and motive.Officials said the case underscores how family intervention and refusal to accept an initial version can play a decisive role in ensuring a thorough investigation, even when a death appears accidental at first glance.
