Indian authorities have arrested Siya Goyal for the alleged murder of her 26-year-old [1] fiancé, Ketan Agarwal, during a trekking trip in Maharashtra.
The case highlights an intersection of romantic betrayal and premeditated violence, where a planned marriage became a cover for a lethal plot. Investigators said the crime was designed to look like a hiking accident to protect the accused's social standing.
According to investigators, the incident occurred June 18, 2024 [4] at Lohagad Fort near Pune. Goyal allegedly pushed Agarwal off a cliff, an act she later said was motivated by a desire to be with another man named Chetan [7]. She said to investigators she committed the act to avoid the family disgrace and social stigma that would follow breaking the engagement [].
The couple had been engaged since February 2024 [2] and had planned a wedding in Udaipur for November 2024 [3]. Prior to the fatal trek, the pair had also planned a birthday celebration in Mahabaleshwar [].
There are conflicting reports regarding the timing of Agarwal's death. One report states that Goyal pushed him off the cliff four days [6] before he died, while other reports suggest the death occurred during the trek on June 18 [4]. The death was reported to authorities around June 22, 2024 [].
Goyal was remanded to police custody for seven days [5] as part of the ongoing investigation. Police said they are continuing to examine the details of the plot and the role of the lover mentioned in the case [].
“Siya Goyal allegedly pushed Ketan Agarwal off a cliff at Lohagad Fort”
This case underscores the extreme lengths to which individuals may go to maintain social appearances and familial honor in traditional contexts. The use of a remote trekking location suggests a calculated effort to exploit the inherent dangers of the terrain to mask a homicide as a tragedy, complicating the initial forensic and investigative process.
