What initially appeared to be a tragic trekking accident at Maharashtra’s Lohagad Fort has now turned into a sensational murder case, with police alleging that Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal was killed by his fiancée and her alleged lover just months before their wedding.

Lonavala Rural Police on Tuesday arrested Siya Goyal and Chetan Babulal Chaudhary in connection with the death of the 26-year-old businessman, son of Pimpri-Chinchwad-based construction entrepreneur Vishal Agarwal. Investigators claim the duo conspired to eliminate Agarwal after Goyal allegedly decided she did not want to go ahead with the arranged marriage.

Agarwal and Goyal got engaged in February and were scheduled to marry in November.

Their families had already begun preparations for an extravagant wedding in Rajasthan, with a luxury palace booked for the ceremony and private aircraft arranged to transport guests.

According to police, the incident occurred on June 18 when Agarwal accompanied Goyal to Lohagad Fort near Lonavala to celebrate her birthday. Shortly after 10.30 am, Goyal informed authorities that Agarwal had slipped while taking photographs near the edge of a valley and plunged into a gorge. Rescue teams recovered his body after a nearly three-hour operation, and an accidental death report was initially registered.

Investigation uncovers alleged conspiracy

The case took a dramatic turn after Agarwal’s family questioned the accident theory, pointing out that he was an experienced trekker who knew the terrain well.

Police subsequently examined witness accounts, technical evidence and mobile phone records.

Investigators found that Goyal had allegedly been in regular contact with Chaudhary, a 22-year-old Pune resident.

According to police, the two had known each other for about a year and were in a relationship.

Call data records revealed that they exchanged more than 2,000 phone calls over six months and spent hundreds of hours speaking to each other.

Police said the investigation indicated that Goyal was unwilling to marry Agarwal, but did not call off the wedding. Instead, investigators allege, she and Chaudhary hatched a plan to kill him.

Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill said evidence showed Chaudhury was present at Lohagad Fort at the time of the incident despite not being part of the official outing.

Police believe the two allegedly pushed Agarwal into the gorge and attempted to pass off the death as an accident.

Family left devastated

The arrests have left both families stunned. Relatives said Goyal shared a cordial relationship with Agarwal’s family and regularly accompanied them on shopping trips and family outings.

Wedding preparations were progressing smoothly, and no one suspected trouble in the relationship.

The deceased’s father, Vishal Agarwal, said the family would have accepted the cancellation of the marriage had Goyal expressed her unwillingness to proceed.

Police are now examining digital evidence, movements of the accused and other leads to determine whether additional people were involved in the alleged conspiracy.

Both accused remain in custody, while investigators continue to piece together the events that led to the death on what was supposed to be a birthday outing and the beginning of a new chapter in his life.