New Delhi: Pune Police are set to use forensic gait analysis as a crucial investigative tool in the alleged murder of 26-year-old businessman Ketan Agarwal, whose death at Lohagad Fort is being treated as a homicide. Investigators believe the scientific technique could help identify the accused despite attempts to conceal his identity in CCTV footage.

According to police, Agarwal allegedly died after being pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on June 18 by his 20-year-old fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary. Both have been accused in the case, which is under investigation.

CCTV footage forms key evidence

Investigators are examining CCTV footage from Lohagad Fort, where Agarwal was last seen before his death.

Police said the footage shows Chaudhary, dressed in shorts and a hoodie, following Agarwal and Goyal during their trek to the fort. However, his face is not clearly visible because of the hooded clothing, making conventional facial identification difficult.

To overcome this challenge, investigators have decided to use gait analysis to compare the walking pattern of the suspect with the individual captured on surveillance cameras.

What is gait analysis?

Gait analysis is a forensic technique that identifies individuals by studying their distinctive walking style, posture, stride length, limb movement and overall biomechanics.

As part of the investigation, Chaudhary is expected to wear clothing similar to that seen in the CCTV footage and recreate the walk along the same route at Lohagad Fort. The newly recorded footage will then be compared with the original surveillance video to identify similarities in movement.

Investigators believe this exercise could help establish whether the person seen in the CCTV footage is the accused.

Experts explain significance

IPS officer Mayank Gurjar, who previously headed the Special Investigation Team in the murder case of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar and is currently Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Raipur, said gait analysis has become particularly important in the Pune investigation because facial recognition may not be possible.

He explained that every individual possesses a unique walking pattern influenced by skeletal structure, posture, stride and biomechanics. These characteristics generally remain consistent even when a person attempts to disguise their appearance.

However, Gurjar emphasised that gait analysis is corroborative evidence and cannot independently establish guilt. It must be supported by forensic evidence, digital records and witness testimony to strengthen the prosecution’s case.

AI improving forensic investigations

Cybersecurity and forensic experts believe advances in artificial intelligence have significantly improved the effectiveness of gait analysis.

Cyber expert Raj Shekhar said AI can analyse subtle movement patterns even when CCTV footage is of poor quality or facial features are not visible.

He noted that AI-assisted video analysis is likely to become a routine part of criminal investigations and private security systems in the coming years.

Cybersecurity expert Sunny Nehra also said gait analysis is especially useful when suspects conceal their faces or change their clothing.

According to him, while a person can disguise facial features or alter their appearance, changing natural biomechanics and walking patterns is considerably more difficult, making gait recognition a promising behavioural biometric.

Technique used worldwide

Experts noted that gait analysis has already been adopted by several international law enforcement agencies.

Police forces in the United Kingdom have used the technique in homicide, robbery and sexual assault investigations where CCTV footage was unclear or suspects attempted to hide their identities.

The technology was also employed during the 2011 London riots, while China has incorporated AI-based gait recognition into its surveillance infrastructure.

Former Delhi Police Special Cell officer L.N. Rao said gait analysis strengthens investigations by providing additional corroborative evidence but should always be considered alongside other forensic findings.

Investigation continues

Pune Police continue to gather forensic, digital and circumstantial evidence in the alleged murder case while examining CCTV footage and conducting scientific analysis.

Officials believe the results of the gait analysis, if matched successfully with other evidence, could play a significant role in establishing the movements of the accused at the crime scene.

Conclusion

The Pune Police’s decision to use forensic gait analysis highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence and behavioural biometrics in modern criminal investigations. While the technique cannot independently prove guilt, investigators believe it could substantially strengthen the chain of evidence in the alleged murder of Ketan Agarwal.