What was first believed to be a tragic trekking accident has now turned into a chilling murder mystery.
In a dramatic twist, Pune Police have arrested 26-year-old Siya Goyal and her alleged lover, 22-year-old Chetan Babulal Chaudhary, accusing them of plotting and executing the murder of Goyal's fiancé, Ketan Vishal Agrawal, by allegedly pushing him into a 400-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort.
Ketan Agrawal, a director in his family's real estate business, died on June 18 after falling into a deep valley near the historic fort. Initially, police treated the incident as an accidental death after Goyal claimed her fiancé had slipped while taking photographs during a trek amid strong winds.
But investigators soon began suspecting foul play.
According to Pune Rural Police Superintendent Sandip Singh Gill, the probe uncovered an alleged romantic relationship between Goyal and Chaudhary. Police claim Goyal was unwilling to marry Agrawal and viewed him as an obstacle to her relationship with Chaudhary.
Investigators allege the pair hatched a deadly plan to eliminate the groom-to-be.
Police say Goyal lured Agrawal to Lohagad Fort under the guise of an outing, while Chaudhary was called to the location separately. Once at a vulnerable spot near the edge, the duo allegedly pushed Agrawal into the gorge, killing him.
The case is particularly shocking because Agrawal and Goyal were reportedly set to marry later this year. Their families had already made lavish wedding arrangements, including booking a palace in Udaipur for the ceremony.
According to reports, the wedding was expected to be a grand affair, with luxury arrangements and elaborate celebrations already in place.
The murder case was registered after Agrawal's father, Vishal Agrawal, filed a complaint. Police have now booked the accused under charges of murder and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Investigators are continuing to piece together the exact sequence of events and are examining whether anyone else may have been involved in the alleged conspiracy.
The sensational case has sent shockwaves through Pune's business circles and both families, turning what was supposed to be a fairy-tale wedding into a devastating tragedy.
