Police have revealed that Siya Goyal’s act of sitting down at Lohagad Fort was not only a signal for her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary to push her fiance Ketan Agarwal off a cliff, but also a deliberate move to ensure she remained out of the victim’s reach during the fatal fall. The revelation came from officials investigating the June 18 murder of the 25-year-old realtor in Pune district.
Meticulous Planning and Safety Measures
According to a police official, the plan was executed perfectly. Goyal (20) and Chaudhary (22) had conspired to kill Agarwal. The signal to push was given when Goyal sat down, either to drink water or tie her shoelaces. However, the sitting position was strategically chosen so that Goyal would not be within Agarwal’s grasp if he tried to grab her while falling. “They feared that if Chetan pushed Ketan and the latter tried to grab Siya while falling, she too could fall into the gorge. The plan was made keeping her safety in mind,” the official said.
Chaudhary’s Precautions
Chaudhary also took extensive measures to avoid detection. He traveled from Pune to Lohagad Fort, approximately 90 km, on a scooter instead of a car. “He chose a scooter over a car as he feared that the car could be detected at a toll plaza. We have impounded the scooter,” a police officer involved in the investigation stated. After the alleged crime, Chaudhary returned to Pune using the same scooter.
Investigators also found that Chaudhary changed his appearance after reaching the fort. He climbed the fort wearing a hoodie, later removed it to remain in a black T-shirt, and put the hoodie back on while leaving. Officials believe this was done to avoid attracting attention.
Reconstruction of the Crime Scene
On Sunday, police took Goyal to Lohagad Fort to reconstruct the crime scene, using a dummy to recreate the moment of the push. The exercise aimed to establish the exact chain of events. The official noted that both suspects had admitted to visiting the fort earlier to find a suitable spot and to practice. “We are yet to ascertain which other spot they had practised at,” the official added.
Legal Proceedings
As the police custody of both suspects ends on Monday, they will be produced before the court, and police will seek further remand. On Saturday, police questioned Goyal’s father, mother, and brother at length and recorded their statements.
