Ketan Agarwal case: Police lens on Beed youth, Siya’s Snapchat conversation
Police have reportedly found that the youth remained in regular contact with one of the accused, Chetan, since the last week of May
In a new development in the alleged murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, police have reportedly questioned a youth from Maharashtra's Beed district who is suspected to have been aware of the discussions between the two main accused in connection with the case.
Beed youth questioned
According to investigators, the youth from Beed is a former classmate of Chetan Chaudhary and currently works for a private company in Pune's Balewadi area. Police suspect the accused had discussed their alleged plan to eliminate Ketan with him before the incident.
Also read: Ketan Agarwal murder: Siya Goyal taken to the alleged rehearsal spot, clothes recovered
Ketan Agarwal died after falling into a gorge during a trek at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on June 18 while accompanied by his fiancée, Siya Goyal. The death was initially treated as an accident, but the investigation later took a dramatic turn after police arrested Goyal, 20, and her alleged boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary, on charges of murdering him.
Investigators are also examining claims that the youth was invited to join the trio on the Lohagad Fort trek on June 18, but declined. According to police sources, he allegedly advised the accused against carrying out any such act. Authorities are currently verifying these claims.
Probe underway
Police have found that the youth remained in regular contact with Chetan since the last week of May. Investigators are analysing call detail records, digital chats and other electronic evidence to establish the sequence of events.
Senior Police Inspector Dinesh Tayade of Lonavala Rural Police Station said the probe was still at an early stage. "Investigation is at a primary level. After analysis of chats and call records, it is found that the youth was in contact with the accused. We are questioning him and will take the necessary steps accordingly," Tayade said.
Court sends accused to judicial custody
Meanwhile, a Pune court on Friday (July 3) remanded Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary to 14 days of judicial custody after rejecting the prosecution's plea for an extension of police custody.
The court also declined the Pune Rural Police's request to conduct polygraph tests on the accused after the defence opposed the move, noting that such tests cannot be carried out without the consent of the individuals concerned.
Also read: Ketan Agarwal murder: Accused Siya Goyal, Chetan sent to 14-day judicial custody
During the hearing before Judicial Magistrate First Class A M Vibhute at Wadgaon Maval, the prosecution argued that investigators had recently recovered chats from the accused's mobile phones that allegedly contained coded language and symbols. It sought additional custody to decode the conversations and continue the investigation.
The defence opposed the plea, contending that police had already been given sufficient time for custodial interrogation. The court subsequently rejected the request and sent both accused to judicial custody until July 16.
Snapchat chat under scanner
The investigation has also widened after a purported screenshot of a Snapchat conversation, allegedly involving Siya Goyal and one of her friends, surfaced on social media.
The alleged exchange, dated May 25, nearly three weeks before Ketan's death, reportedly shows Siya asking her friend to send a copy of her Aadhaar card for booking flight tickets for a wedding.
Also read: Ketan Agarwal murder case: What is gait analysis and why are police using it?
According to the purported screenshot, Siya allegedly wrote: "Aadhaar card front back bhej de. For wedding tickets jo hone nai wali par fir bhi bhej de" ("Send [photos of] the front and back of your Aadhaar card. It's for booking wedding tickets for a wedding that is never going to happen, but send it anyway.")
Police are verifying the authenticity of the alleged conversation and examining whether any proposed flight bookings formed part of a larger plan to mislead investigators or create an alternative narrative after the alleged murder. Authorities have not indicated whether the friend had any knowledge of the alleged conspiracy.
Investigation continues
According to investigators, digital evidence recovered from the accused's phones remains a key focus of the probe, with forensic experts continuing to analyse messages, call records and other electronic data.
Police have maintained that the motive behind the alleged murder is still under investigation, and no conclusions have been drawn as the inquiry continues.