The investigation into the sensational murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal has taken a dramatic turn after statements made by the families of both the victim and the prime accused raised fresh questions about the alleged motive behind the crime.
While police continue to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to Ketan’s killing, both families have now maintained that they had no idea Siya Goyal was unhappy with the arranged marriage. Even more significantly, her family has claimed they would never have forced her into the alliance had she spoken up.
‘She Never Told Us She Didn’t Want This Marriage’
During questioning, Siya Goyal’s elder brother, Sahil Goel, reportedly told investigators that his sister had never expressed any reluctance about marrying Ketan Agarwal.
According to sources, police specifically asked Sahil whether the family knew Siya was allegedly in love with co-accused Chetan Chaudhary and unwilling to proceed with the marriage.
His answer, investigators say, was unequivocal.
“If Siya had simply told us she wanted to marry Chetan, we would have agreed,” Sahil reportedly told police.
He further claimed there would have been no objection from the family because Chetan belonged to the same community, came from a respected business family and enjoyed a financial background similar to theirs.
“Why would we oppose the match?” Sahil is learnt to have told investigators.
The statement has added a significant new dimension to the investigation, especially since police believe the murder may have been planned to eliminate Ketan instead of calling off the engagement.
Ketan’s Family Makes Similar Claim
Ketan Agarwal’s family has also rejected the suggestion that the marriage was forced upon Siya.
His father reportedly told investigators that neither his family nor Ketan had ever received any indication that Siya was unhappy with the alliance.
“We are a well-off family. If she wasn’t interested, we could easily have found another girl for our son,” Ketan’s father reportedly said.
The family maintains that no concerns or objections were communicated to them before the engagement.
‘Killing Him Was Easier’
The family’s statements come days after investigators reportedly recorded Siya Goyal’s custodial statement in which she allegedly admitted that murdering Ketan appeared easier than informing her family she did not wish to marry him.
According to reports, Siya told investigators she chose not to disclose her relationship with Chetan or her unwillingness to marry Ketan because she feared hurting her parents.
Police are currently verifying the statement as part of the ongoing investigation.
Deleted Chats Under Forensic Scanner
Meanwhile, investigators have intensified their examination of the digital trail left behind by the two accused.
Police suspect Siya Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary attempted to erase evidence before and after the murder.
Forensic experts are analysing deleted WhatsApp conversations, Instagram messages, call records and other digital data recovered from their mobile phones.
Investigators believe several conversations were deliberately deleted in an attempt to conceal planning related to the crime.
According to sources, the accused allegedly went a step further by clearing recycle bins and removing traces of deleted files, making digital recovery significantly more challenging.
Cyber forensic teams are now working to reconstruct the missing communication and establish whether the murder was premeditated.
June 17 Café Meeting Under Lens
Police are also closely examining a meeting between Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary that took place just one day before Ketan Agarwal’s death.
According to investigators, the two met at a café in Pune’s Lullanagar locality on June 17 and spent nearly an hour together between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm.
Officers are now trying to determine whether the alleged murder conspiracy was discussed during that meeting and whether any final planning took place before the couple left for the Lohagad trek where Ketan was later killed.
Investigators are also reviewing CCTV footage, payment records and witness statements from the café as part of the probe.
Probe Continues
The murder of Ketan Agarwal has shocked Maharashtra not only because of its alleged brutality but also because investigators believe it may have involved meticulous planning over several weeks.
With forensic analysis still underway, police are piecing together deleted digital evidence, witness accounts and custodial statements to establish exactly how the conspiracy unfolded.
The statements made by both families—that they were never informed Siya opposed the marriage—have now become a crucial part of the investigation, raising the central question that continues to haunt the case
Also Read: ‘It Was Her Plan; No, It Was His’: Siya, Chetan Shift Blame In Murder Case https://www.vibesofindia.com/siya-chetan-shift-blame-ketan-agarwal-murder-case/
