Pune Trekker's Death at Lohagad Fort Now Suspected Murder, Fiancée and Friend Detained

A Pune trekker's (L) death at Lohagad fort, initially ruled an accident, has taken a shocking turn. Police now suspect his fiancée (R) and her male friend deliberately pushed him into a deep gorge.

PUNE: Pune police on Tuesday said the death of 26-year-old trekker Ketan Vishal Agarwal, initially believed to be an accident, is now being investigated as a murder after his fiancee and her male friend were allegedly found to have pushed him into a deep gorge at Lohagad Fort. Agarwal, a resident of Gahunje near Pune and a director in his family's real-estate business, died on June 18 after falling nearly 400 feet into a valley while trekking at the historic fort. At the time, police had said he lost his balance while taking photographs amid strong winds. The trek had been organised to celebrate the upcoming birthday of Agarwal's fiancee, who was accompanied by two close friends. Based on the initial account, police had registered an accidental death report. However, fresh findings during the investigation led police to suspect foul play. According to a police official, Agarwal's fiancee and her male friend allegedly pushed him into the gorge and then attempted to portray the incident as an accident. Both have been detained, and the case is now being probed as a murder. Police have not disclosed further details about the motive or the evidence that prompted the change in the investigation. Agarwal was scheduled to marry in November, and police said preparations for the wedding were already underway, with the families having booked a palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan, for the ceremony. Lohagad Fort, located near Pune, is closely associated with the history of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is among Maharashtra's 12 UNESCO-recognised heritage forts.(With PTI inputs)