Lohagad Fort Death Case: Fiancee and Lover Charged With Murder Attempts on Ketan Agarwal

What was initially reported as a tragic selfie accident at the historic Lohagad Fort has unfolded into a premeditated murder investigation. The Lonavala Rural Police have arrested 20-year-old Siya Goyal and her lover, 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary, for allegedly pushing her fiancé, Ketan Vishal Agarwal, off a 350-foot cliff to his death. The incident took place on June 19 during an outing organised to celebrate Goyal's birthday ahead of the couple's upcoming wedding.

Digital Footprints Alter Case Direction

On the morning of June 19, 25-year-old Ketan Agarwal, a real estate firm director from Gahunje, fell into a deep gorge at the hill fort. Early statements from the scene suggested that Agarwal had lost his footing and balance near the edge due to strong winds while taking photographs. Emergency rescue teams spent nearly three hours retrieving his body from the steep terrain, and police initially registered an accidental death report. Birthday Trek Turns Tragic: Ketan Vishal Agarwal Dies After Falling Into Gorge at Lohagad Fort in Lonavala.

The trajectory of the investigation shifted after detectives noticed inconsistencies in Goyal’s statements during routine questioning. Cyber cell investigators conducted a forensic analysis of her mobile phone records, social media activity, and location history. The digital trail revealed a clandestine relationship between Goyal and Chaudhary, exposing a coordinated conspiracy to eliminate Agarwal, whom Goyal reportedly viewed as an obstacle to her relationship.

Multiple Murder Attempts Discovered

Further police interrogation revealed that the fatal push on June 19 was the second attempt made on Agarwal's life within five days. According to law enforcement officials, Goyal first conceived the plot during an initial trek to Lohagad Fort on May 31. On June 14, the suspects allegedly took Agarwal back to the fort and attempted to orchestrate a fatal fall by panicking him with a fabricated snake attack. That attempt failed when Agarwal remained uninjured and entirely unaware of foul play. Goyal then organised a subsequent birthday trek on June 19. Investigators allege that Chaudhary followed the group secretly and was signalled to approach from behind before the duo pushed Agarwal off the cliff edge.

Cancelled Bali Trip and Destroyed Passport

According to grieving family members, Agarwal's family had been preparing for an elaborate destination wedding scheduled to take place in a palace venue. The couple had also planned a pre-wedding international trip to Bali. "The couple were supposed to travel to Bali before their wedding," a relative stated, noting that all travel arrangements had been fully finalised. However, during the journey to the airport, Goyal claimed she had lost her passport, forcing the immediate cancellation of the vacation. Subsequent police inquiries revealed that Goyal had intentionally torn up and disposed of her passport in the washroom of a local restaurant where the couple had stopped for breakfast. Pune Shocker: Techie Assaults Wife Over Payment for Mangoes Worth INR 850, Case Registered.

Following the cancellation, Agarwal arranged an alternate luxury birthday celebration, booking approximately 40 rooms at a high-end resort in Mahabaleshwar. Goyal, however, insisted on making a detour to Lohagad Fort for a pre-wedding photoshoot, where the crime was ultimately carried out. Both suspects remain in police custody facing formal murder charges as the Lonavala Rural Police finalise their judicial case files.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 23, 2026 03:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).