Investigators to recreate accused Chetan Chaudhary’s walk at Lohagad Fort as they tighten the case against him and co-accused Siya Goyal; courtroom drama unfolds over her legal representation.
The investigation into the sensational murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal has entered a crucial forensic phase, with police set to conduct a gait analysis of co-accused Chetan Chaudhary in an attempt to establish his presence at the crime scene beyond doubt.
The scientific exercise comes amid a series of fresh developments in the case, including the reconstruction of the alleged murder at Lohagad Fort, courtroom drama over who represents prime accused Siya Goyal, and investigators searching for Ketan’s missing passport.
The case, which initially appeared to be a tragic trekking accident, has evolved into one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched murder investigations.
From Birthday Trek to Murder Investigation
Twenty-five-year-old Ketan Agarwal, director of the Pune-based Success Group real estate firm, had travelled to Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on June 18 with his fiancée, Siya Goyal, to celebrate her birthday.
Soon after the incident, Siya informed police that Ketan had accidentally slipped while taking photographs near the cliff edge.
Based on her statement, police initially registered an accidental death report.
However, the investigation took a dramatic turn after Ketan’s family questioned the circumstances surrounding his death. Their suspicions, coupled with technical evidence gathered by investigators, eventually led police to arrest Siya Goyal and her alleged boyfriend, 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary, on charges of conspiracy and murder.
Police now allege that the couple meticulously planned Ketan’s killing to avoid an arranged marriage scheduled for November.
What Is Gait Analysis?
One of the most significant pieces of evidence investigators now hope to strengthen is CCTV footage showing a man believed to be Chetan Chaudhary near the foothills of Lohagad Fort on the day of the murder.
The footage shows the individual wearing a thick hoodie despite temperatures hovering around 33 degrees Celsius, a detail that first raised investigators’ suspicion.
To scientifically establish whether the person captured on camera is indeed Chaudhary, police will conduct a gait analysis.
Gait analysis is a forensic technique that studies an individual’s unique walking pattern.
Experts compare characteristics such as stride length, posture, arm movement, leg motion and body balance to determine whether two videos show the same individual.
Since walking patterns are considered highly individual, gait analysis is increasingly being used worldwide as corroborative forensic evidence when facial identification is difficult.
Police to Recreate CCTV Footage
According to investigators, Chaudhary allegedly wore the hoodie to conceal his identity while following Ketan and Siya to the fort.
Police now plan to recreate the CCTV footage by making Chaudhary wear a similar hoodie and walk along the exact route where the original footage was recorded.
Investigators will then compare the recreated video with the CCTV recording to examine whether the movement patterns match.
“We have CCTV footage showing him walking while wearing a hoodie to hide his face. The gait analysis will compare his movements in the CCTV footage with those in the recreated video,” an investigating officer reportedly told the court.
The exercise is expected to strengthen the prosecution’s argument that Chaudhary was present at the scene despite allegedly attempting to conceal his identity.
Crime Scene Recreated
A day before the court hearing, police took Siya Goyal back to Lohagad Fort to reconstruct the alleged sequence of events.
Using a life-sized dummy, investigators recreated the incident as they attempted to identify the exact location from where Ketan was allegedly pushed into the gorge.
According to police, Siya demonstrated how she allegedly sat down near the cliff edge—a pre-decided signal that investigators claim alerted Chetan Chaudhary, who was hiding nearby, to emerge and push Ketan off the cliff.
The reconstruction forms part of police efforts to strengthen the chain of evidence before filing the chargesheet.
Courtroom Drama Over Siya’s Lawyer
The court proceedings witnessed an unexpected twist when a lawyer identifying himself as Aashutosh Shrivastava appeared before the court claiming he would represent Siya Goyal.
He submitted a vakalatnama purportedly carrying Siya’s signature.
However, the development was immediately disputed.
Siya Goyal and members of her family informed the court that Advocate Vipul Dushing had been appointed as her legal counsel and that Shrivastava had never been authorised to represent her.
The confusion briefly disrupted proceedings before the court accepted Dushing’s appearance.
Meanwhile, Dushing argued that Siya’s arrest was illegal and lacked sufficient legal grounds.
Counsel representing Chetan Chaudhary, Advocate Ram Shahane, also sought to distance his client from the allegations, contending that Chetan’s role in the FIR remained limited and undefined.
Police Seek More Time
During the hearing, investigators sought an extension of police custody for both accused.
Police argued that several crucial aspects of the investigation remained incomplete.
These include determining the precise location where the murder allegedly took place, completing forensic examination of digital evidence and tracing Ketan Agarwal’s missing passport.
Accepting the prosecution’s request, the court extended the police custody of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary until July 3.
The Relationship at the Centre of the Case
Ketan Agarwal and Siya Goyal had become engaged in February this year after the alliance was arranged through Ketan’s maternal uncle.
Both belonged to affluent business families in Pune.
Investigators allege that unknown to Ketan and his family, Siya had been in a relationship with Chetan Chaudhary, whose family also operates a business in the same commercial area as her father’s.
Police believe the relationship continued even after the engagement.
The couple’s wedding was scheduled for November, and hotels in Udaipur had already been booked for the celebrations.
Investigators now allege that rather than calling off the marriage, Siya and Chetan conspired to eliminate Ketan.
The two accused deny the allegations.
As investigators continue to analyse CCTV footage, digital evidence, reconstructed crime scenes and forensic reports, the outcome of the gait analysis could emerge as one of the key scientific elements in what has become one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched murder investigations.
Also Read: 34 Minutes to Murder: The Secret Call That May Crack the Ketan Agarwal Case https://www.vibesofindia.com/34-minutes-to-murder-the-secret-call-that-may-crack-the-ketan-agarwal-case/
