Amid the ongoing investigation into the murder of Pune-based businessman Ketan Agrawal, the family of accused Siya Goyal has called for strict action against the culprits. Siya, who was scheduled to marry Ketan in a few months, is now an accused in the murder case.
Reacting to Ketan’s death, Praveen Goyal, Sia’s father, recalled their close relationship, saying he had become so attached to him that he considered him a son. Speaking about the case, he said the tragedy had devastated everyone involved.
“What happened is a very tragic event,” he told the news agency. that I. “We still can’t believe it. They lost their son, and their son was ours too,” he said.
“I was so attached to him that I felt like he was our son. We lost such a loving, promising and good boy today. We are deeply saddened by it. There is nothing more tragic than this. We had so many good dreams for the future. The wedding was supposed to take place in Udaipur.”
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He said: “Sia never expressed her dissatisfaction with the wedding. Since the match ended, she has always been happy. She has always spoken about Ketan. If they (Keitan’s parents) had informed us even slightly that something was wrong, we would have spoken to them.”
The father said: “Let the maximum possible punishment be imposed on the murderer. From the fortress where Ketan fell, the accused, even if it is my daughter, must be pushed down.”
Conflicting claims
But the police gave a different version of events. According to investigators, Siya Goyal was allegedly reluctant to go ahead with his engagement to Ketan Agarwal, despite going ahead with wedding preparations.
The officers also allege that Ketan remained committed to the marriage even after learning of her objections.
During custodial interrogation, Sia reportedly told police that she was already in a relationship with Chetan Chaudhary and did not want to continue their engagement, but felt unable to break it off publicly due to family and social pressures. Investigators claim this tension became central to the case.
Sia Goyal’s mother calls for strict action
“Hearing this news, I was extremely shocked. I kept wondering how this could have happened. The grief I feel for Ketan is immense, even more than I can express. It has devastated two families. Ketan was a very good boy,” the mother of the accused, Siya Goyal, told PTI.
Her mother said: “If someone is guilty, he should be punished strictly, even if that person is my daughter. If my daughter is proven guilty, she should be expelled from the place where Ketan was. I feel very sad and hurt. If someone is found guilty, he should get the punishment he deserves.”
“There were very high hopes in both families about Sia and Ketan’s marriage. There was a deep attachment and affection. The other family treated Sia with a lot of love, and we also maintained a very good relationship. Everything was going well, and many preparations were made, including celebrations for Ketan’s birthday.
If at any point we felt that there was a problem between Siya and Ketan or that they were not speaking properly, we would have discussed it with them. We have never been informed of any serious issues. I never felt that my daughter didn’t love him or that there was such an attitude. Both children shared a very loving relationship.
Sia didn’t drink or go to parties or that sort of thing. If there were any doubts, they should have been discussed with us or with the relatives who arranged the match. They never asked us about such things.
So far, for four months, everything has been fine. Only after this incident are these allegations made. Earlier, there were only good things said about her. This is the first time we are hearing such allegations.
My daughter respects and loves Ketan very much. There was no indication otherwise. “Since the engagement, there has been no problem between the children,” her mother told PTI.
A planned murder in Lohagad Fort
Ketan Agarwal, who came from a prominent business family in Pune and worked in real estate development, died on June 18 during a visit to Lohagad Fort near Lonavala, which was initially reported as an accidental fall.
Investigators now claim the incident was staged. According to police, Siya and Chetan allegedly coordinated the plan, with Chetan earlier arriving at the fort and later following the couple to a secluded place before pushing Ketan into a gorge.
Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill said digital evidence, location data and call logs point to prior planning and not just an accident, HT reported.
Read also | Who is Ketan Agarwal, the Pune businessman who was murdered by his fiancée Sia Goyal and her lover?
Police also point to extensive communications between Sia and Chetan, which reportedly spanned more than 2,000 calls in the months leading up to the incident, as well as internet searches allegedly relating to methods of committing a murder.
Family suspicions
Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, said the family initially had difficulty believing anything suspicious had happened. The discrepancies in behavior and circumstances after the incident led them to raise their concerns with the police.
The family also cited previous tensions in the relationship and alleged signs of distress prior to the engagement. Detectives later expanded the investigation after reviewing CCTV footage and digital trails, which they say identified Chetan at the site despite attempts to conceal his movements.
Chetan’s father, Babulal Chaudhary, denied all the allegations, claiming that his son was falsely implicated and was not involved in the incident.
Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act relating to murder and criminal conspiracy. They remain in custody while the case continues.
