The investigation into the brutal murder of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal has gathered pace, with rescuers revealing chilling details about the condition in which his body was recovered from Lohagad Fort. Officials said Agarwal had suffered severe head injuries, including a crushed skull, along with multiple bruises on his limbs, indicating a violent assault.
According to members of the rescue team, the gruesome discovery sent shockwaves through the area and left locals in panic.
Sharing details of the operation, rescue team member Sunil Gaikwad said the police received information about the incident around 10.30 am. The rescue operation continued for nearly two hours before the body was recovered from the difficult terrain and handed over to an ambulance at around 1.30 pm.
"On reaching Lohagad Fort, we discovered a deceased boy with severe head injuries, including a crushed skull, and multiple bruises on his limbs. He had died. We retrieved the dead body and carried it out through the jungle, though we had some difficulty lifting it on the steep slope," Gaikwad told ANI.
Gaikwad also noted that Ketan's fiancée, Siya Goyal, was present during the recovery of the body. He claimed that while family members and others appeared visibly distressed, Siya remained comparatively calm and was "not overtly emotional."
Police have arrested Siya Goyal and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, and are interrogating them in connection with the murder.
According to investigators, Siya and Chetan first met during a cricket match involving Siya's brother, Sahil. Their friendship reportedly deepened after they met again at a Diwali party in 2025.
Police have also questioned Sahil to verify the statements made by both accused. "Sahil knows Chetan, and we cross-checked certain things with him. He was questioned for nearly 10 hours," police said on Friday evening.
Investigators believe that Chetan allegedly instigated Siya to eliminate Ketan. After several unsuccessful attempts, Chetan reportedly told Siya that he would personally carry out the murder, according to the findings of the investigation so far.
Reacting to the shocking crime, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that the case would be fast-tracked. The state government has appointed senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor.
"It is an extremely shocking and incomprehensible incident. As a society, we need to reflect on why educated young men and women from good families develop such criminal intent and a desire for revenge. This is not merely a criminal issue; it also has a social angle," Fadnavis said on Friday.
The investigation is continuing as police examine digital evidence, statements of witnesses and the sequence of events leading to Ketan Agarwal's death.
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