No Eyewitness, No Proof in Pune Fort Murder: Siya Goyal’s Lawyer Challenges Ketan Agarwal Case
Indiadailyupdate.com – The legal team for Siya Goyal and her co-accused, Chetan Chaudhary, has raised doubts about the case against them in the murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal. They argue that the evidence linking their clients to the crime lacks independent corroboration. Siya’s lawyer stated there are no eyewitnesses, direct witnesses, or supporting proof to confirm her guilt. He noted that the investigation remains ongoing, with the police yet to submit the chargesheet.
“This entire matter is under investigation, and the police are conducting the probe properly. Initially, it was registered as a case of accidental death, but the police later began investigating a murder angle. Our client is cooperating fully with the investigation so that the police can reach a proper conclusion, file the appropriate chargesheet and bring the truth to light,” he said.
Additionally, the lawyer highlighted that no independent witnesses have been identified to validate the allegations against Siya. He expressed confidence that the court will scrutinize the need for judicial custody and any further police remand requests.
“We all desire justice for everyone involved—whether it is the victim and their family or the accused and their family. We will represent her on the 29th. Our stance will be to seek judicial custody for her. If the police seek further police remand, they will have to justify the need for it before the court,” he said.
Ram Shahane, Chetan’s attorney, also contested the accusations, stating that the FIR does not detail his specific role in the crime. It only notes his relationship as the boyfriend of the main accused. “The FIR does not specifically describe his role in the alleged offence. It merely states that he is the boyfriend of the main accused, and on that basis, he has been implicated in the case,” Shahane said.
Meanwhile, Pune Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police Gajanan Tompe affirmed that the investigation is progressing, with the roles of both Siya and Chetan in the alleged murder established. “We have gathered technical evidence and examined several witnesses. Based on all this, the investigation is ongoing. A large number of people have been questioned,” he explained. He also mentioned that Siya’s family members and friends will be summoned as part of the inquiry.
The Maharashtra government has accepted the Agarwal family’s request for a fast-track trial and assigned senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor. Nikam noted that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had informed him of the family’s demand for expedited proceedings. “The chief minister told me that this case poses a challenge for Maharashtra and requested that I serve as the special public prosecutor. I accepted. The investigation is still underway, and the status can only be discussed after the chargesheet is filed,” Nikam said.
Ketan Agarwal died after falling into a gorge during a trek near Pune. The case was initially registered as an accidental death but shifted to a murder investigation, leading to the arrest of Siya and Chetan. Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, who met the Chief Minister in Pune, demanded the death penalty for the accused and praised the government’s decision to fast-track the trial. Earlier, he had addressed media claims that Siya allegedly resented Ketan for wearing a wig, stating that the family had informed her of Ketan’s use of a small hair patch before the engagement. “If she had any issues, she should have said no. What was the need to kill my son?” he questioned. He also confirmed that a special investigation team has been formed to examine the case further.
