Pune police have arrested a woman and her male friend for the suspected murder of 24-year-old Ketan Vishal Agarwal [1].
The arrests mark a significant shift in a case originally viewed as a tragic accident. The investigation now suggests the death was a planned conspiracy to kill the victim and disguise the act as a fall.
Agarwal died on June 18, 2024 [4], after falling into a deep valley at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala in the Pune district of Maharashtra [2]. While initial reports suggested an accidental slip during a trek, investigators later determined the fall was not an accident [2].
Police said that Siya Goyal, the victim's fiancée, pushed Agarwal into the gorge [2]. According to investigators, the act was part of a coordinated effort to eliminate the groom-to-be. Two people, including Goyal and a male friend, have been taken into custody [5].
Reports on the exact depth of the fall vary between 350 feet [2] and 400 feet [3]. The location is a steep gorge on the premises of the historic fort, which is a popular destination for hikers.
Authorities said the incident appears to be a planned conspiracy. The investigation focused on the movements and statements of those accompanying Agarwal at the time of the fall.
“The investigation now suggests the death was a planned conspiracy to kill the victim and disguise the act as a fall.”
The transition of this case from an accidental death to a murder investigation highlights the role of forensic and circumstantial evidence in overturning initial witness accounts. By arresting both the fiancée and an accomplice, police are signaling that the crime involved premeditation and coordination rather than a spontaneous act.
