Hidden Marriage Angle Emerges in Ketan Agarwal Murder Probe as Police Examine Digital Trail
The investigation into the murder of businessman Ketan Agarwal has uncovered a new development, with police claiming that the two arrested accused, Siya Goyal and her alleged partner Chetan Chaudhary, had secretly married months before the crime. Investigators say the alleged marriage came to light during the forensic examination of mobile phones, including WhatsApp conversations and other digital records, which are now central to the ongoing probe.
According to investigators, the couple allegedly concealed their marriage from their families. Police are verifying whether the marriage took place before or after Siya's engagement to Ketan on February 19, as the timeline is expected to play a crucial role in establishing the sequence of events.
Ketan Agarwal died on June 18 after allegedly being pushed from Lohagad Fort. Siya, who was engaged to Ketan, and Chetan have both been arrested in connection with the case. Police suspect the incident was the result of a carefully planned conspiracy.
The investigation has largely shifted towards analysing the accused's digital footprint. Officers are examining months of WhatsApp chats, call records, internet browsing history and location data to reconstruct the events leading up to the alleged murder. Police believe the electronic evidence has provided significant leads into the planning of the crime.
Investigators are also looking into an alleged WhatsApp exchange between Siya and one of her friends from Beed that recently surfaced online. According to reports, Siya allegedly requested images of both sides of an Aadhaar card, claiming they were needed to book flight tickets for a wedding. She reportedly referred to it as a "wedding that was never going to happen." Police are examining whether the conversation has any connection to the alleged murder plot, although the authenticity of the leaked chat has not yet been officially established.
Police further claim that Siya had gradually distanced herself from Ketan before his death. Investigators allege that she refused to accompany him for a planned pre-wedding photoshoot in Bali and also skipped a birthday trip to Mahabaleshwar. Officers are probing whether this behaviour was linked to her alleged relationship with Chetan.
According to the investigation, an initial attempt to kill Ketan was allegedly made on June 14 but did not succeed. Police claim Siya later told Chetan she was unable to execute the plan alone, following which the duo allegedly decided to carry out the crime together.
Investigators also allege that the accused watched crime-based web series, podcasts and online videos to understand different methods of committing offences. Police claim they researched murder cases from across the country and deliberately avoided using weapons in an attempt to minimise forensic evidence and suspicion.
