June 18, 2026. Dheeraj Jadhav, a security officer on duty at the Lohagad Fort, heard the screams of a woman. He immediately knew something was amiss. He rushed from his post to the woman. She was distraught and screaming for help. Dheeraj asked her what happened. She replied that someone had fallen into the gorge below. Dheeraj took out his mobile phone and dialled the police team that is stationed at the fort, knowing fully well that it was impossible to survive a 350-foot fall. With network issues, he had to make a couple of tries before the call went through. The police arrived and began the operations to rescue the man who had fallen off the fort wall.

The distraught woman was Siya Goyal. And the man who had fallen off the fort was her fiancée Ketan Agarwal. This is the Lohagad murder.

As the investigation is ongoing, there will be details of the case that will be uncovered in the days to come. This article will cover the story and what we know so far in the case. Buckle up!

Ketan Agarwal (26) was born with a silver spoon in his mouth when he entered this world into the family of one of Pune's established real estate families. He got all the opportunities that life could offer. A good upbringing, a loving family, wealth and happiness. He graduated from Symbiosis University and then went to the USA and earned a master's degree. But like all sons of business tycoons, he headed home to look after his father’s company.

On the other hand was Siya Goyal (20), who belonged to another Pune business family. Narendra Mittal and Renu Mittal, Siya Goyal's relatives knew the Agarwals and therefore initiated the first contact and arrangement. When Vishal Agarwal enquired about Siya’s life and her past, the Mittals vouched for Siya’s good character; assured Ketan's family that she was cultured, soft-spoken and came from an excellent home. And it was only after, that Vishal agreed to this arranged marriage.

When fate has already written the script of your life, nothing you do will change it. When Ketan first met Siya in February 2026 he could not take his eyes off her. It was love at first sight for him. This was destiny playing a cruel game. And so the match between Ketan and Siya was proposed was agreed upon.

Ketan’s family had a modern outlook and therefore encouraged the prospective couple to spend time together and to get to know each other before plunging into marriage.

On the other hand, now people have pointed out that it was Siya's family that appeared eager to expedite the wedding. Were they aware of and disapproved of Siya’s lover Chetan Chaudhury? And perhaps that is why they wanted to get her married off as soon as possible? This angle is what the police are investigating currently.

On February 11, 2026, Ketan and Siya got engaged. The photos and videos from that day are picture-perfect. Ketan Agarwal drops to one knee and slips a ring onto Siya Goyal's finger. The guests break out into rapturous applause, while the families hug each other. The couple look lovingly at each other like an excited, soon-to-be-wedded couple.

And also it reminds us of the marriage video of Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi. In the video, the newlywed wife seems happy and romantic, hiding the heinous reality of her plans to eliminate her husband during their honeymoon in Shillong.

Ketan was madly in love with Siya, and the families set their wedding date for November 2026. They began spending time together, meeting up, and getting to know each other. Ketan was excited about Siya’s birthday on June 19.

Reports have now emerged that Siya’s brother, Sahil Goyal, knew about her relationship with Chetan Chaudhary, as they had met through him at a Diwali party in November 2025. Chetan and Siya consequently got close and established a romantic relationship.

According to Sahil, Siya appeared genuinely happy about marrying Ketan. He said she enthusiastically planned every aspect of their pre-wedding photoshoot -- from selecting songs to choosing locations -- and spent hours discussing the details with Ketan over video calls.

Sahil also claimed that Siya had once spoken to him about Chetan, saying she was uncertain about the nature of their relationship. Sahil advised her, saying that feelings of friendship are sometimes mistaken for love at a young age.

Sahil also claimed that Siya had once told him about Chetan, saying that she wasn’t sure about the kind of relationship they had. Sahil reportedly told her that at her age, the feeling of friendship can be confused with love. And so Sahil said, he did not bring this up with their parents.

Siya is believed to have asked for Rs 1 crore from Ketan for pre-wedding shopping. Ketan, who was madly in love with her, did not think twice and is said to have sent her the money. Reports have now claimed that Siya transferred the money to her lover Chetan to help him with his finances and business!

On one hand was a madly-in-love Ketan, while allegedly on the other was a scheming Siya. The game was afoot!

On May 31, 2026, Ketan, who loved to trek, took Siya to the Lohagad Fort, which is approximately 64 kilometres away from Pune. Ketan was a regular trekker at Lohagad and knew the terrain very well. It was on this trip, according to the police, that Siya first hatched the modus operandi to kill Ketan as she watched him sitting at the edge of the fort wall.

On June 4, 2026, Siya insisted that they visit Lohagad fort again, but Ketan's mother did not allow them to travel, probably citing the fact that they had just gone there 3 days ago! And so the trip was cancelled. This was two days before they were due to travel to Bali.

Ketan wanted it to be the perfect wedding and so decided that they should head to Bali for a pre-wedding photoshoot.

On the night of June 6, 2026, Ketan, Siya, Ketan's sister, Siya's brother and a taxi driver set off from Pune for Mumbai Airport. And here comes a witness whose statement would add to exposing the machinations of Siya.

The taxi driver, Vaibhav Jadhav, recalled picking up Siya and her brother, Sahil, at 10 pm. Before the journey even began, an argument broke out between the siblings. Jadhav claimed that Siya initially refused to get into the cab, as she did not want to go to Bali, and only did so after Sahil insisted. The vehicle then proceeded to Ravet, where Ketan and his sister joined them. Jadhav told investigators that the disagreement between Siya and Sahil continued throughout the drive.

Ketan carried a sling bag containing the essentials for the trip -- his passport, his sister's passport and foreign currency. At one point during the drive, he casually handed the bag to Siya. According to investigators, she opened it, looked inside, and quietly closed it again.

Hours later, Siya asked Jadhav to stop at the food mall near Khalapur Toll Plaza. The sling bag remained inside the parked car. While trying to get into Mumbai Airport, Ketan was horrified to find this sling bag missing! How could that be? Panic ensued, as the bag contained Ketan and his sister's passports! Ketan called the driver, who immediately saw the bag on the rear seat and returned the bag to him and drove off.

Ketan opened the sling bag and now was distraught... His passport was missing! Nothing else was missing. Not the foreign currency. Not his sister's passport. Just his passport had disappeared. Maybe you left it at home, Siya suggested. Ketan said no, as he remembered putting both his and his sister's passports in the sling bag.

Ketan called up the cab driver again and asked him to look for his passport that might still be inside the vehicle. Jadhav searched the cab thoroughly and found nothing and even made a video call to show Ketan, who was at his wits' end!

Both Ketan and Sahil personally searched the cab, but the passport could not be found. Ketan was heartbroken as they had to call off the pre-wedding shoot in Bali. While Siya appeared disappointed, Ketan did not know that it was allegedly Siya’s game plan.

When the case would come to light, Vaibhav Jadhav would reveal an interesting moment from that night's drive. He recalled Siya suddenly returning to the car at the food plaza and asking him to open the boot. Jadhav saw her remove something from her handbag, which had been kept in the luggage compartment, and she returned to the group. The police now believe that Siya allegedly stole the passport at the food plaza and perhaps tore it and dumped it in the women's toilet. The police are now examining the possibility of retrieving the passport or its remnants.

Investigators believe the Bali trip threatened to disrupt a plan that had already begun taking shape -- a conspiracy, they allege, between Siya and Chetan to eliminate Ketan before the wedding.

If true, the destroyed passport wasn't merely a missing travel document. It was the first move in a murder plot that, investigators say, had already been set in motion.

And now, with the Bali trip cancelled, Ketan turned his attention to celebrating Siya's upcoming birthday on the 19th of June. He wanted to make it special.

According to the police, on June 14, 2026, Siya insisted that they drive to Lohagad Fort again. On this occasion, sensing an opportunity, with no one around to spot them, Siya allegedly suddenly pushed Ketan, who fell off the cliff. Except... Ketan managed to hang on to a protruding bush. Ketan was shocked and surprised, but saw Siya break down in tears and hug him.

Siya explained that she had seen a snake and had pushed him away to keep him safe. Unknown to Ketan, this was attempt number 2. The first allegedly being the aborted plan when his mother had told them not to go. Siya made it seem like it was purely an accident, claim cops.

Ketan's mistake was being a good-at-heart man; he ignored this glaring red flag. And this would cost him dearly in just a few days' time.

And then came the D-Day: June 18, 2026.

On the morning of June 18, the day before Siya's birthday, Ketan told his family he was taking her to Lohagad Fort. His parents questioned the plan. A birthday celebration had already been organised for the next day. Why make the trip now? Ketan had an answer. Some of Siya's friends, he said, had planned a surprise at the fort. Afterwards, they would head to the Radisson Hotel.

It sounded harmless. His family agreed.

At approximately 8:30 am, Ketan walked out of his home and headed for the Lohagad Fort foothills, arriving within an hour.

As Ketan and Siya hiked up the fort, a man wearing a heavy hoodie in the scorching heat, pulled low over his face, followed the couple. This was Chetan Chaudhary, the lover of Siya.

The couple walked up a secluded cliff near the Vinchukada (The Scorpion’s Sting), which is a mountainside fortification complex known for its narrow, moss-covered walls & sweeping views. Upon reaching the ridge, Siya Goyal sat down. Ketan, who had his back turned to her, had no chance to even defend himself. The man in the hoodie lunged on Ketan and allegedly pushed him off the 350-foot cliff.

At exactly 10:45 am, Siya Goyal raised an alarm. On hearing her screams, Dheeraj Jadhav, the security guard, arrived on the site and called the police. Siya called her mother and gave her the horrific news of Ketan accidentally slipping and falling into the gorge. Siya's mother in turn called Ketan’s mother and informed her. Ketan’s parents rushed towards the fort.

For nearly two hours, rescue personnel searched the steep gorge below Lohagad Fort.

A little past noon, Ketan's body was finally located deep inside a ravine on the western side of the fort, lying amid thick bushes. One of the rescuers said Ketan had suffered serious head injuries consistent with a fall from a great height. His arms and legs also bore multiple serious injuries. According to the rescue team, he had died at the scene.

His body was taken for post-mortem examination. At that moment, everyone believed there was only one explanation. Siya maintained that Ketan had accidentally slipped due to high winds, while they were taking photographs. His family accepted her account without question.

Based on that statement, police initially registered the case as an accident.

But Ketan’s parents could not believe that Ketan, who had known the terrain so well, could have slipped and fallen.

The first seeds of doubt, according to Ketan Agarwal's family, were sown not after his death was confirmed but in the chaotic moments when there was still hope he might survive. Speaking to a newspaper, Ketan's father, Vishal Agarwal, recalled the events from that day... Siya Goyal's mother calling and informing them... And by the time the family reached the fort, rescuers had already pulled him out of the ravine.

What Vishal says he saw next, has stayed with him ever since. Ketan's mouth, he alleged, had been tied shut. The family recognised him only after his face was uncovered. It was then that Vishal Agarwal noticed something.

As panic unfolded at the scene, a woman police officer casually remarked that Ketan was still alive and should be rushed to hospital immediately. It was at that moment, Vishal claimed, that Siya's behaviour changed. Until then, he said, she had been present at the scene, but after hearing the officer's words, she stopped responding to the family's questions altogether.

For Ketan's family, however, suspicion began long before the police announced a murder investigation.

Ketan's sister repeatedly asked Siya to explain what had happened. Where had she been sitting? How had Ketan reached the edge of the fort? Which foot had slipped? How had he fallen? According to the family, Siya answered none of the questions. They also felt that her grief appeared forced.

The following day, Siya visited Ketan's home. Once again, the family sought answers. Once again, they say, she remained silent. Then came a moment the family now believes was significant.

As the questioning continued, Renu Mittal, Siya's aunt -- the relative who had arranged the marriage -- intervened, took her aside and spoke to her alone. And emerged, telling Siya, "You go, go", before taking her away. Vishal says that from that point onwards, the family's unease turned into suspicion.

That evening, the Agarwal family gathered to reconstruct the day's events. Vishal says it was his daughter who first voiced what everyone else had begun to feel: something wasn't right.

Another red flag for Vishal was the fact that Siya did not shed a tear while they were returning from Lohagad to Pune. It was then that the Agarwals went to the police and lodged a request to investigate.

Siya and Chetan may have thought that they had pulled off a perfect crime... but like all criminals they left behind clues.

Next week, we take you into the investigation by the police; we get inside the heads of Siya and Chetan and see how they allegedly planned the murder; and finally we will see how the police finally got them to confess!

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Anirban Bhattacharyya is a bestselling true crime author and creator-producer of the hit TV show Savdhaan India and producer of Crime Patrol. He is India’s foremost expert in true crime and on Indian serial killers.