Extension of Police Custody in High-Profile Pune Murder Case
The Wadgaon Mawal Magistrate Court near Pune has extended the police custody of Siya Goyal and her alleged accomplice, Chetan Chaudhary, until July 3. This decision follows the duo’s involvement in the murder of Ketan Agarwal, a prominent realtor based in Pune. The court’s ruling came on June 29, after Goyal and Chaudhary were brought before the magistrate by local law enforcement, who sought additional time for investigation.
The prosecution presented 18 distinct reasons to justify their request for the extended custody of the accused. However, defense attorneys Vipul Dushing, representing Goyal, and Ram Shahane, representing Chaudhary, opposed the extension. They argued that the police were already aware of the investigation’s grounds, suggesting that the initial seven-day custody was adequate for the probe.
Despite these objections, the court acknowledged the serious nature and complexity of the crime, thereby granting an extension of custody to ensure a thorough and fair investigation.
Details of the Crime and Investigation
Ketan Agarwal, affiliated with his family’s Success Group, was tragically killed near Maharashtra’s Lonavala at Lohagad Fort. Initially recorded as an accidental death at the Lonavala Rural Police Station, the case took a turn following a complaint from Agarwal’s family, prompting a detailed police inquiry. Investigators examined call records, mobile data, and CCTV footage from the fort, which revealed a man in a hoodie and mask, later identified as Chaudhary, discreetly trailing Agarwal and Goyal.
Five days post-Agarwal’s demise, on June 23, the police apprehended Goyal and Chaudhary, charging them under Section 103 (murder) and Section 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Initially remanded to a seven-day police custody by the Wadgaon Mawal Court, this period was set to end on June 29.
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Allegations and Motive
According to the police, the murder was a premeditated act. Goyal reportedly did not wish to marry Agarwal but feared societal backlash if she called off the engagement. Consequently, she allegedly conspired with Chaudhary to eliminate Agarwal. Investigations further revealed a prior failed attempt on Agarwal’s life on June 14.
Examinations of the accused’s mobile phones uncovered online searches for methods to disguise a murder as an accident and for identifying specific death-prone locations at the fort.
For ongoing updates on this developing case, follow Bar and Bench’s live coverage.
