21 September,2026 08:55 AM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Siya Goyal, Ketan’s 20-year-old fiancee, and her associate, Chetan Chowdhury.
The Lonavala police have filed a 5053-page charge sheet in a Pune court in connection with the death of Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort, alleging that what initially appeared to be an accidental fall was, in fact, a planned murder.
The charge sheet details an alleged conspiracy involving a failed attempt to disable Ketan, the use of crime films, podcasts, and ChatGPT during the planning stage, and a fake Instagram account created to lure him to the fort.
Ketan's fiancee, Sia Goyal; her alleged associate, Chetan Chaudhary; and Chetan's friend, Ritesh Hange, have been named as accused in the case. Police have also recorded statements from five eyewitnesses and relied on technical evidence, call records, photographs, and other material collected during the investigation.
Undated photos of Siya Goyal and Ketan Agarwal, who were engaged in February. FILE PICS
According to the charge sheet, the alleged conspiracy began in March 2026. The accused initially planned to have Ketan seriously assaulted and permanently disabled rather than killed. They allegedly approached a person from another state to carry out the attack. However, the plan was later abandoned over fears that the person could be caught and reveal the conspiracy. The charge sheet states that an intermediary subsequently became a police witness.
After deciding to kill Ketan, the accused reportedly studied crime-related films and podcasts while exploring ways to execute the murder and evade detection. Police claimed that they also used ChatGPT during the planning process.
The charge sheet refers to their alleged study of the high-profile Meghalaya murder case involving Sonam Raghuvanshi. Investigators believe the accused examined details of other crimes while considering how to carry out their plan.
The charge sheet states that Sia and Chetan conducted a recce of Tiger Point and other locations in Lonavala on May 29. After allegedly noticing CCTV surveillance at Tiger Point, they are said to have considered alternative locations.
Police claim that Lohagad Fort was eventually selected after the accused read about a woman who died following a fall from the fort in March 2025.
The location could help them pass off Ketan's death as an accidental fall while taking a selfie. On June 14, Sia took Ketan to Lohagad and attempted to push him. The attempt reportedly failed. She then claimed that there was a snake, according to the charge sheet.
Following the failed attempt, police say that Hange created a fake Instagram account in the name of 'Mahi,' using a photograph of another woman. The charge sheet states that Ketan received a message from the account on June 18. The person operating it posed as Sia's friend and claimed that a surprise birthday celebration for Sia was being planned at Lohagad. The message allegedly persuaded Ketan to accompany Sia to the fort.
The charge sheet further states that Chetan reached the fort through an exit route and hid near a temple. Sia and Ketan later arrived at the location.
When Ketan was distracted, Sia pushed him from behind, while Chetan kicked him, causing him to fall into a deep gorge, leading to his death, the charge sheet further states.
The trial will test the allegations against the accused, and a court will presume all three are innocent until proven guilty.
Ketan died on June 18, 2026, after falling from Lohagad Fort. His death was initially suspected to be accidental, but the Lonavala police later alleged that evidence pointed to a planned murder. Sia, Chetan, and Ritesh were subsequently arrested in connection with the case.
