PUNE: As the investigation into the alleged murder of 26-year-old realtor Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort gathers pace, the families of both accused have come out with sharply contrasting claims, with Siya Goyal’s parents demanding the harshest punishment for their daughter if she is found guilty, while Chetan Chaudhary’s family insists he is being falsely implicated.Siya Goyal’s father, speaking from a hospital, said whoever was responsible for Ketan’s death deserved the strictest punishment, even if it turned out to be his own daughter.“Whoever has done this should be punished. Even if my daughter is guilty, she should be pushed from the same cliff,” he said.His wife, Pooja Goyal, said the family had never seen any signs that Siya was unhappy with the marriage. She described Ketan as an ambitious young man with plans for a grand future, including a destination wedding in Udaipur and several family trips.“Siya always spoke fondly of Ketan and his family. We never knew about Chetan Chaudhary,” she said. While expressing disbelief that her daughter could be involved in such a crime, she added that if investigators proved otherwise, she should face the harshest punishment.On the other hand, Chetan Chaudhary’s family maintained that he was innocent and was being made a scapegoat. His father, Babulal Chowdhury, claimed the family had never met Siya and knew nothing about her until the case surfaced.“He told us he did not push Ketan and was standing at some distance when the incident happened. He is being falsely framed,” Babulal said.Chetan’s uncle, Udayram Chowdhury, also defended him, describing him as a straightforward sportsman with no prior complaints against him. He alleged that media coverage had presented a one-sided narrative and said Chetan had broken down while insisting on his innocence during a brief meeting with family members.Meanwhile, Ketan’s family reiterated their demand for a fast-track trial and the strictest punishment for those responsible.“If Siya did not want to marry my son, she could have simply said no. We would have cancelled the wedding immediately,” said Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal. “Why take such a drastic step? A 26-year-old life has been lost.”Vishal also recalled how Ketan’s passport had allegedly gone missing days before a planned Bali trip, forcing him to return from the airport while the others proceeded with their travel plans.Ketan’s mother said the alleged betrayal was particularly painful because she had developed a close bond with Siya after the engagement.“We trusted her completely. We shopped together, had meals together and treated her like family. We never imagined something like this could happen,” she said, demanding the death penalty for both accused.Siya Goyal, 20, and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, 22, were arrested last week for allegedly murdering Ketan Agarwal, director and chief marketing officer of his family’s real-estate firm, by pushing him into a 350-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on June 18.According to Pune Rural police, the murder was the culmination of a months-long conspiracy. Investigators allege that Goyal had earlier attempted to push Ketan from the same fort on May 31 and again on June 14, when he reportedly survived after grabbing onto a bush. Police also claim she destroyed his passport to derail a planned pre-wedding trip abroad.Investigators say CCTV footage, call records showing extensive communication between the accused, and other evidence helped unravel what was initially registered as an accidental death case. Both accused remain in police custody until June 29 as the investigation continues.
