In a fresh development in the sensational Ketan Agarwal murder case, Vishal Agarwal, father of the slain 26-year-old realtor, met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, demanding a fast-track trial and the death penalty for the accused, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Agarwal said the Chief Minister assured him that he would personally monitor the case and ensure that the accused are brought to justice at the earliest.
The bereaved father also alleged that the murder may have been part of a larger conspiracy. He claimed that accused Chetan Chaudhary and Sahil Goyal, brother of prime accused Siya Goyal, are close friends, raising suspicions that more people may have been involved in planning the crime. He added that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already been formed to probe all possible angles.
Addressing speculation surrounding his son's personal life, Vishal Agarwal said Ketan had a medical condition that caused minor hair loss and that this had been disclosed to Siya's family before the marriage was finalised. He further alleged that Siya's family had misrepresented her lifestyle before the wedding.
Reacting to the case, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the incident "deeply disturbing" and said it should also be viewed as a social concern. "We need to think seriously about why children from educated and well-settled families develop such destructive thinking. This must be seen not just as a crime, but as a social concern," the Chief Minister said.
Ketan Agarwal, a 26-year-old director at his family's real estate firm, was engaged to 20-year-old Siya Goyal, with the couple set to marry in November.
Police allege that Siya and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, conspired to kill Ketan by pushing him into a gorge at Lohagad Fort on June 18. Investigators claim the two were in frequent contact for months and had visited the fort multiple times before the incident, including an alleged failed attempt on June 14.
According to police, the accused met at a Pune café on the day of the murder to discuss the plan and identify the location. A security guard later rushed to the spot after hearing screams. Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary are currently in judicial custody.