A Pune court on June 23 remanded Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary — accused of pushing Ketan Agarwal into a gorge at Lohagad Fort — to seven days’ police custody. What began as a suspected accident has turned into a murder and criminal conspiracy case.

By: Mohit Garg  •  Published: June 24, 2026  •  Updated: June 24, 2026  •  4 min read

 📌 Quick Facts

 

What Happened at Lohagad Fort?

On June 18, 2026, Ketan Agarwal died after falling into a deep gorge near Lohagad Fort, a popular trekking destination close to Lonavla in Pune district. At first, police treated it as a tragic accident. People do fall on these trails. But the initial story didn’t hold up under scrutiny.

As Lonavla police looked closer, the evidence pointed somewhere else entirely. Investigators concluded that Ketan was not alone when he went over that edge. His fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her friend, Chetan Chaudhary, were with him and police believe the fall was no accident.

 

From Accident to Murder: How the Case Changed

The shift from “accidental fall” to “murder conspiracy” is the part that has gripped public attention. Ketan’s father filed a formal complaint with Lonavala police after the incident, and that complaint set the investigation in a different direction.

 

Lonavla police registered an FIR against Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary under sections relating to murder and criminal conspiracy. Both were subsequently arrested in connection with the case.

 

Pune Court Grants 7-Day Police Custody

On Tuesday, June 23, a Pune court heard the police remand application and granted seven days of police custody for both accused. The remand allows investigators to interrogate Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary directly, gather further evidence, and potentially recover material from the crime scene or their devices.

Police custody remands in murder cases are standard procedure when investigators believe face-to-face questioning is necessary to uncover the full chain of events especially when motive and planning are still being established.

Case Timeline

 

Why This Case Is Being Closely Watched

Cases where an apparent accident turns into a murder allegation involving a victim’s closest relationships attract public attention for obvious reasons and this one is no different. The allegation that a fiancée and her friend conspired to kill the very person she was engaged to is, at minimum, a devastating story for the Agarwal family.

For investigators, the next seven days of custody are critical. Police will likely try to establish motive what, if anything, Siya Goyal or Chetan Chaudhary stood to gain and to reconstruct the sequence of events at the fort precisely. Call records, digital evidence, and witness accounts from other trekkers on the trail that day will all form part of the picture.

 

What Comes Next

After the seven-day remand ends, the court will decide whether to extend police custody further or transfer the accused to judicial custody. Investigators must also file a charge sheet a detailed document laying out the evidence within the statutory period.

The case will then move through Pune’s court system. Both accused are entitled to apply for bail, which the prosecution can oppose. Given the serious nature of the charges murder and criminal conspiracy bail is unlikely to be granted easily at this stage.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who is Ketan Agarwal?

Ketan Agarwal was a young man who died on June 18, 2026, after falling into a deep gorge near Lohagad Fort, a popular trekking spot close to Lonavla in Pune district, Maharashtra. His death, initially treated as an accident, is now being investigated as a murder.

2. Who are the accused in the Ketan Agarwal murder case?

Two people have been arrested and charged: Siya Goyal, Ketan’s fiancée, and Chetan Chaudhary, described as her friend. Both were present at Lohagad Fort on the day of the incident and are accused of pushing Ketan into the gorge.

3. What charges have been filed against them?

Lonavla police have registered an FIR against both accused under provisions relating to murder and criminal conspiracy. The complaint was filed by Ketan Agarwal’s father.

4. What is a police custody remand?

A police custody remand (PCR) allows investigators to keep an arrested person in police custody  rather than jail for questioning. Courts grant it when police need to interrogate the accused, recover evidence, or reconstruct events. A Pune court granted a 7-day remand for both accused on June 23, 2026.

5. Why was the case initially treated as an accident?

Lohagad Fort is a hilly trekking destination where accidental falls are not unheard of. Without immediate evidence of foul play, police recorded Ketan’s death as an accidental fall. It was the formal complaint by his father, and the subsequent investigation, that led police to conclude a murder conspiracy was involved.

6. Where exactly did the incident happen?

The incident took place at Lohagad Fort, a historic hill fort situated near Lonavla in Pune district, Maharashtra. The fort is a popular weekend trekking and sightseeing destination for people from Pune and Mumbai.

7. What happens after the 7-day police custody ends?

Once the remand period ends, the court will either extend police custody (if investigators make a case for it), or the accused will be moved to judicial custody (jail). Eventually, police must file a charge sheet detailing all evidence. After that, the trial process begins.

8. Can the accused get bail?

Both accused can apply for bail, but in murder cases, especially at an early stage of investigation, courts are generally reluctant to grant it. The prosecution will almost certainly oppose any bail application, citing the gravity of the charges and risk of evidence tampering.

9. What is the motive behind the alleged murder?

Police have not publicly confirmed a specific motive yet. Establishing a motive is likely a key goal of the 7-day custody period. Investigators will examine financial records, messages, call logs, and other digital evidence to understand why the accused allegedly planned and carried out the crime.

10. Will this blog be updated as the case progresses?

Yes. This post will be updated as new developments emerge including the outcome of the custody period, any bail hearings, charge sheet filing, and trial proceedings.

 📝 Conclusion

The Ketan Agarwal murder case has taken a grim turn that few would have anticipated when the news of his death first broke. What appeared to be a tragic trekking accident at Lohagad Fort on June 18, 2026, is now a full-scale murder and criminal conspiracy investigation with his own fiancée and her friend in police custody.

For Ketan’s family, the shift from mourning an accident to pursuing justice for murder is an unimaginably painful road. For the Lonavla police and the Pune court system, the case now enters a critical phase: the 7-day custody period that began on June 23 is when the most important investigative work happens. What police uncover from digital trails to witness accounts will shape the entire prosecution.

Cases like this one are a reminder that trekking locations, however scenic, are not always free from danger and that investigations matter. Jumping to conclusions before evidence is gathered serves no one. As this case moves through the courts, the facts will eventually speak for themselves.

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