Gahunje Realtor Murder: Accused Fiancée and 'Partner' Blame Each Other

PUNE: The murder case of Gahunje realtor Ketan Agarwal has taken a fresh turn after the two accused — his fiancée Siya Goyal and her 'partner' Chetan Chaudhary — allegedly blamed each other for orchestrating the crime during police questioning. Pune rural police, who arrested the duo in connection with Agarwal’s June 18 death at Lohagad Fort, said their custodial interrogation revealed conflicting claims. While Goyal allegedly accused Chaudhary of planning the murder, Chaudhary claimed Goyal forced him to kill Agarwal.

An officer involved in the investigation, however, said the evidence gathered so far pointed towards Goyal as the alleged mastermind. Agarwal and Goyal had got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry later this year. According to police, Goyal claimed she had repeatedly told Agarwal that she did not want to go ahead with the marriage, but he refused to call it off. “She has alleged that it was Chaudhary who then devised the plan to eliminate Agarwal. On his part, Agarwal has alleged that it was Goyal who forced him to kill Agarwal,” the officer said. Amid the conflicting versions, the officer added, “Evidence gathered so far suggests that the entire murder plot was hatched by Goyal.”

Police said Goyal and Chaudhary first met at a Diwali party last year and later became close. Investigators claim the two remained in regular contact and allegedly discussed plans to kill Agarwal. The probe has also suggested that Goyal allegedly wanted more time for herself and was unwilling to continue with the marriage despite family pressure. Police suspect she had grown close to Chaudhary but was not ready to marry him either.

According to investigators, Goyal and Agarwal had visited Lohagad Fort on May 31, where she allegedly first thought about killing him after seeing him sitting near the edge of the fort. Police also suspect an earlier attempt was made on June 14, when Goyal allegedly tried to push Agarwal off the fort. When the attempt failed, she allegedly raised an alarm about a snake and later claimed the push was accidental.

Meanwhile, Goyal’s parents have demanded strict punishment if their daughter is found guilty. Speaking to reporters, her mother Pooja Goyal said, “If anyone is at fault in this, they should be given the harshest punishment. Even if it includes my daughter. If my daughter is found guilty, then she should be thrown from the same place where Ketan was thrown...” She said the family had no knowledge of any issue between the couple. “Siya never expressed any displeasure about this marriage... We did not know anything about Chetan. Ever since the engagement, she only spoke to Ketan... I don't believe that she agreed (to commit the crime), but if the investigation reveals she is guilty, then give her the harshest punishment...” Pooja Goyal said. Her father Pravin Goyal also demanded strict action against whoever was responsible. “Whoever did this should receive the harshest punishment. Just like the fort from which our Ketan fell, whoever is found guilty, even if it's my own daughter, should be pushed from there...” he said. “We did not have any prior knowledge about Siya's love affairs. Siya was a simple girl. She is 19 years old. Would a 19-year-old girl do such a thing? I don't know anything about him. Where did Chetan come from? I've never seen his face, nor have I ever spoken to him in my life. He has never been to our house...” he added.

Ketan Agarwal’s uncle Vijay Agarwal said the family was seeking justice. “My son was 26, well-educated. Listening to his parents, he agreed to an arranged marriage, and he was killed. Who said what, I do not know. I only believe in our country's law...” he said. Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary are currently in seven-day police custody till June 29 as the investigation continues.