What began as a fairy-tale engagement allegedly spiralled into a chilling murder conspiracy involving thousands of phone calls, secret meetings and multiple failed attempts to kill Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal.
Police claim that Agarwal's fiancée, Siya Goyal (20), and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary (22), remained in near-constant contact for six months before allegedly pushing the 26-year-old businessman into a gorge at Lohagad Fort on June 18.
According to investigators, the duo exchanged a staggering 2,004 phone calls and spent nearly 238 hours talking, with some conversations stretching beyond three hours.
"We suspect the extensive communication was part of the planning that culminated in the murder," Pune Rural SP Sandip Singh Gill said.
Cafe meeting before fatal push
Police allege that on the day of the incident, Goyal and Chaudhary met at a cafe before heading to Lohagad Fort, where they discussed how to eliminate Agarwal.
Investigators claim the pair even identified a specific spot on the fort from where Agarwal could be pushed into the valley and worked out the final details of the plan.
Both accused have been arrested and remanded to police custody.
Bali trip sabotage and three alleged murder attempts
The probe has revealed a series of disturbing incidents leading up to Agarwal's death.
Police allege Goyal first sabotaged the couple's planned pre-wedding photoshoot in Bali by secretly stealing Agarwal's passport during a stop at a food mall in Khalapur on June 6 and dumping it inside a women's washroom.
Investigators also claim Goyal repeatedly persuaded Agarwal to accompany her to Lohagad Fort in the weeks before his death.
According to police, she allegedly tried to kill him there on June 14, days before the fatal incident. Agarwal reportedly survived after grabbing hold of a bush. When he questioned how he had fallen, Goyal allegedly blamed a snake and pretended she had saved him.
Officials say she had also taken him to the fort on May 31 and tried to convince him to return on June 4, but his mother prevented the trip.
The hoodie clue that cracked the case
A crucial breakthrough came from CCTV footage showing Chaudhary trailing Agarwal and Goyal at Lohagad Fort.
Police became suspicious after spotting Chaudhary wearing a hoodie despite temperatures hovering around 33°C.
His unusual appearance and movements prompted investigators to dig deeper into the case, eventually leading them to uncover the alleged conspiracy through technical evidence, call records and digital communications.
Wedding planned, palace booked
Agarwal and Goyal got engaged in February and were set to marry in a lavish ceremony in Udaipur this November. Police said a palace had already been booked for the celebrations.
Investigators believe both accused viewed Agarwal as an obstacle to their relationship and decided to eliminate him.
Families deny allegations
Chaudhary's lawyer, Ram Shahane, has maintained that his client has been falsely implicated, arguing that the FIR does not clearly describe his role in the alleged crime.
His father, Babulal Chaudhary, also insisted his son is innocent and claimed Goyal may be trying to frame him to save herself.
"We have been told that Chetan was standing far away from Siya and Ketan when the incident took place. My son is innocent," he said.
Agarwal, a resident of Gahunje, was the director and chief marketing officer of his family's real-estate firm, Success Group. He held a master's degree in Entrepreneurship, while Goyal was a commerce graduate.
