Fresh details emerging from the investigation into the alleged murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal suggest that the motive may have been driven by a desire to postpone marriage rather than financial gain or personal revenge.
According to investigators, Siya Goyal allegedly told police that she did not wish to marry Ketan and believed that his death would give her several years before she would again face pressure to enter into an arranged marriage. Police also suspect that her alleged boyfriend and co-accused, Chetan Chaudhary, wanted additional time before settling down.
Investigators believe the two chose to avoid the social consequences of calling off the engagement by allegedly planning Ketan's murder instead.
As the investigation progressed, police uncovered what they claim was a relationship between Siya and Chetan that began before her engagement. According to officials, the two travelled to Udaipur with friends in January and spent several days there together. Weeks later, Siya became engaged to Ketan.
Police believe Chetan, who hails from Rajasthan, had known Siya's family for some time through her elder brother, Sahil Goyal. Investigators say the two first met during cricket matches attended by Sahil before reconnecting later.
Call records have become a significant part of the investigation. Police claim the duo exchanged 2,004 phone calls since January, with conversations lasting a combined 238 hours. Investigators believe the volume and duration of these calls may help establish the nature of their relationship and the alleged conspiracy.
Another development under scrutiny is a meeting between Siya and Chetan at a café in Pune's Lullanagar area on June 17, one day before Ketan's death. According to police, the meeting lasted for nearly an hour, and investigators are examining whether the alleged murder plan was finalised during that conversation.
The investigation has also shifted towards digital forensics after officers found that both accused had allegedly deleted messages from multiple platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram. Police claim conversations were erased before and after the incident, while deleted files and recycle bins were also cleared in an apparent attempt to remove digital evidence.
Forensic experts are now working to recover the deleted data in an effort to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to Ketan's death.
Meanwhile, investigators questioned Siya's brother, Sahil Goyal, for nearly ten hours. Officials said he was asked about his relationship with Chetan Chaudhary and other aspects connected to the case before being allowed to leave. Police are expected to question additional family members as they continue to investigate what they believe was a carefully planned conspiracy.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against the accused are yet to be tested in court.