Bengaluru: A Bengaluru connection has emerged in the investigation into the murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal, with the Pune Police chargesheet stating that the accused had initially considered bringing him to Bengaluru and breaking his limbs before abandoning the plan.
The revelation is part of a detailed chargesheet filed in the case, which concerns the alleged murder of Agarwal at Lohagad Fort near Pune on June 18. Police allege that his fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, pushed him into a gorge at the fort. A third accused, Ritesh Hange, has also been arrested in connection with the alleged conspiracy.
Bengaluru connection emerges from chargesheet
According to the chargesheet, the accused initially discussed a plan to physically assault Agarwal rather than immediately proceeding with the eventual murder plan.
One of the accused, Ritesh Hange, reportedly discussed the possibility of taking Agarwal to Bengaluru and breaking his limbs with a Bengaluru-based acquaintance.
The person approached in Bengaluru reportedly refused to assist and advised against carrying out such an act. He was subsequently made a witness in the case.
The alleged Bengaluru plan was therefore not executed. Police have relied on the witness’s statement as part of the evidence collected during the investigation.
Plan later changed to murder
The investigation indicates that the alleged plan evolved after the proposed assault was not pursued.
According to police, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary subsequently decided to kill Agarwal. Ritesh Hange is alleged to have assisted them in planning the crime.
The chargesheet reportedly contains details of discussions among the accused, digital evidence and statements from witnesses.
Police have alleged that the accused also researched ways to carry out the murder and avoid detection. The investigation reportedly found that they watched murder-related films, listened to podcasts about avoiding police detection and used ChatGPT while planning the crime. These details are allegations contained in the police investigation and will be tested during judicial proceedings.
Ketan was pushed from Lohagad Fort
Agarwal, a businessman from Pune, died on June 18 after falling into a gorge from Lohagad Fort.
The death was initially treated as an accidental fall. Police later investigated the circumstances after finding evidence that raised suspicions about the sequence of events.
Police allege that Siya and Chetan took Agarwal to the fort and pushed him from the cliff. Both were arrested in June, while Ritesh was arrested later over his alleged role in the conspiracy.
The police investigation has since reconstructed several aspects of the alleged planning through digital evidence, witness statements and CCTV footage.
Bengaluru witness helped police investigation
The Bengaluru-based person approached in connection with the alleged plan became an important witness after refusing to participate.
The witness reportedly told investigators that Siya and Chetan had sought information about locations where Agarwal could potentially be beaten, killed or mutilated.
According to the police account, the witness advised them not to proceed with such a plan.
The statement helped investigators establish an alleged earlier stage of the conspiracy and provided the Bengaluru link now detailed in the chargesheet.
The witness has not been accused of involvement in the murder.
Passport allegedly destroyed before murder
The chargesheet also reportedly contains details of an alleged attempt to prevent a planned trip involving Agarwal.
According to the investigation, Siya allegedly tore Agarwal’s passport and discarded it in a café washroom on June 6 while the couple were travelling for a pre-wedding photoshoot.
The alleged destruction of the passport prevented the planned trip from taking place, according to the police version.
Investigators have also alleged that a fake social media account was created and used by Siya and Chetan to lure Agarwal to Lohagad Fort under the pretext of celebrating Siya’s birthday.
Tourists’ photographs form part of evidence
The investigation has also uncovered photographs taken by tourists visiting Lohagad Fort on June 18.
According to Pune Rural Police, the photographs inadvertently captured Ketan, Siya and Chetan at the location from where Agarwal was allegedly pushed.
Police submitted these photographs to the court along with the chargesheet and said they corroborated other evidence placing the three at the fort.
The chargesheet also includes eyewitness statements, social media information and other digital evidence gathered during the investigation.
Wedding plans and relationship under investigation
Ketan Agarwal and Siya Goyal had become engaged in February and were reportedly scheduled to marry in November in Jaipur.
Police have alleged that the relationship between the couple had deteriorated and that Siya did not want to proceed with the marriage.
Investigators have also examined her relationship with Chetan Chaudhary as part of the alleged motive and planning behind the murder.
These are police allegations contained in the investigation and are not findings of guilt by a court.
Chargesheet details extensive investigation
The police investigation has resulted in a lengthy chargesheet containing evidence collected over several months.
Recent reports have cited different figures for the length of the chargesheet, with NDTV referring to a 5,053-page document while other reports have described it as running to more than 5,300 pages. The chargesheet was filed before the court in September.
The document reportedly includes digital evidence, witness statements, photographs, social media information and details of the alleged planning.
Pune Rural Police have also initiated the process for appointing senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as special public prosecutor for the case.
Bengaluru plan was never carried out
The Bengaluru aspect of the case is significant because it concerns an alleged earlier plan rather than the location where the murder occurred.
According to the investigation, the proposal to bring Agarwal to Bengaluru and break his limbs was abandoned after the Bengaluru-based acquaintance refused to participate.
The subsequent alleged murder took place at Lohagad Fort in Pune district, where police allege that Agarwal was pushed into a gorge.
The Bengaluru witness is now part of the prosecution’s evidence, while the accused will have the opportunity to contest the allegations through the judicial process.
Conclusion
The Pune Police chargesheet in the Ketan Agarwal murder case has revealed an alleged earlier plan to bring him to Bengaluru and break his limbs. The plan was reportedly discussed with a Bengaluru-based acquaintance, who refused to assist and later became a witness.
Police allege that the accused subsequently abandoned the assault plan and moved towards a murder conspiracy that culminated in Agarwal’s death at Lohagad Fort on June 18. The case remains before the court, and the allegations in the chargesheet are yet to be adjudicated.