Making an emotional appeal during a candlelight march seeking justice for his murdered son, Ketan Agarwal's father on Saturday urged anyone who was at Lohagad Fort on 18 June — when police believe Ketan was pushed off a cliff by his fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary — to come forward and assist investigators.
Addressing locals, family members, and friends gathered for the march at Belmondo Society on the outskirts of Pune, Vishal Agarwal said several people had witnessed the incident, as well as the moments leading up to and following it, but had not yet approached the authorities. He noted that whilst some people had been messaging the family to say they were present at the fort, they were still hesitant to speak to the police. He urged them to step forward to help secure justice for Ketan, assuring them that they would not face any trouble.
The appeal came whilst Pune Rural Police continued questioning Siya Goyal's family members. Her parents, Praveen and Pooja Goyal, were questioned for several hours on Saturday, just a day after her brother, Sahil Goyal, reportedly underwent nearly ten hours of interrogation. According to police sources, Siya's mother denied allegations that the family had pressured her daughter into the match, telling investigators that they had placed no pressure whatsoever on Siya to marry Ketan.
The questioning is part of a widening probe into a murder case that has deeply shocked Pune. Twenty-year-old Siya Goyal and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary, twenty-two, have been arrested for conspiring to kill Ketan, twenty-five, by pushing him off a cliff at the fort. Police claim the couple planned the murder because Siya did not want to go ahead with the arranged marriage, which had been scheduled for November.
Grief and anger were on full display during Saturday's march. Ketan's grandfather, Devichand Agarwal, spoke of feeling betrayed by people the family had known for several years. His voice breaking with emotion, he demanded strict punishment for those responsible and urged the police to investigate everyone involved in arranging the wedding, calling for capital punishment for both Siya and Chetan. Ketan's mother similarly demanded the death penalty for the accused duo alongside action against Siya's family members.
Another relative questioned why objections to the marriage had never been raised earlier, pointing out that Siya's entire family had been fully informed about Ketan when discussing the wedding. The relative added that if Siya had any reservations, she could have simply said no from the very beginning, rather than spending time with him, going out, and continuing the relationship.
Meanwhile, police are examining the roles of everyone connected to the case. Deputy Superintendent of Police Gajanan Tompe stated that the investigation revealed Siya and Chetan had exchanged signals before Ketan was allegedly pushed from the fort. Authorities have seized Chetan Chaudhary's mobile phone and plan to send it for forensic analysis to determine if any messages or digital evidence were deleted. Police have also ruled out reports suggesting that Ketan wearing a hair patch was a primary motivation behind the murder plot.
Ketan's family stated they would continue their fight for justice, whilst expressing their gratitude to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for promising a speedy trial and appointing senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as the public prosecutor for the case.
Also read: Ketan Agarwal murder: Goyal recreates crime scene at Lohagad Fort
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