Pune: The investigation into the alleged murder of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal has uncovered new details suggesting that the accused initially planned to seriously injure him rather than kill him, according to sources familiar with the probe.

Investigators allege that Siya Goyal and her alleged boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary, discussed hiring a contract assailant to assault Ketan or stage an accident that would leave him critically injured. The two also reportedly explored the possibility of robbing him as part of the plan and deliberated over methods that would divert suspicion away from themselves. According to sources, the accused considered options including assault, a staged accident and robbery before the alleged murder plot escalated.

The newest revelations introduce an additional dimension to the high-profile case, which is already being probed as a premeditated conspiracy. Authorities have earlier claimed that Siya and Chetan covertly orchestrated the crime, carried out reconnaissance trips to Lohagad Fort, and reenacted the sequence of events during the investigation after Ketan was allegedly pushed into a gorge on June 18.

Investigators are also examining evidence suggesting that the accused attempted to ensure a pre-wedding trip to Bali was cancelled before the incident. Earlier, police had said they were analysing digital evidence, including chats allegedly exchanged between the accused, as well as claims that the two may have secretly married months before Ketan's death. Those aspects remain under verification.

Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary were arrested after police concluded that Ketan's death, initially reported as an accidental fall, was the result of a planned murder. The investigation remains ongoing.