Ujjwal Nikam appointed special prosecutor in Lohagad Fort murder case
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced the appointment of senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor for the Lohagad Fort murder case in Pune. Meeting with the victim's father, Vishal Agarwal, Fadnavis assured the family that the case would be tried in a fast-track court to ensure speedy justice.
The victim, 25-year-old Ketan Agarwal, was a director in his family firm, Success Group, which is one of the largest developers of warehouses in Maharashtra. Ketan was allegedly pushed to his death from the scenic Lohagad Fort by his fiancée, Siya Goyal, 20. According to the police, Siya was in a relationship with Chetan Choudhary, 22, and did not want to marry Ketan.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis described the incident as a reflection of a "disturbing social trend." He stated that the crime was extremely shocking and incomprehensible, urging society to reflect on why educated youth from good families develop such criminal intent and desire for revenge.
Meanwhile, the investigation intensified on Friday as Pune Rural Police questioned Siya’s brother, Sahil Goyal, for more than two hours. Police sought to establish when Sahil became aware of his sister's relationship with Chetan. Sahil reportedly told investigators that he learned of the relationship several months ago and had advised Siya to end it. Sahil and Chetan had met in 2024 through their shared interest in cricket, after which Chetan befriended Siya.
Investigators have so far recorded the statements of ten people, including Neeraj Kumar, an employee at Chetan’s shop. Gajanan Tonpe, the deputy superintendent of police for the Lonavala division, stated that investigators have established the active roles of both Siya and Chetan in the crime.
Police are also analyzing digital evidence. The accused reportedly deleted their phone chat histories and cleared their recycle bins before and after the incident. The mobile phones have been sent to a forensic laboratory to recover the deleted data.
Additionally, the victim's father, Vishal Agarwal, addressed questions regarding a wig worn by his son, clarifying that Ketan wore a hair patch and the Goyal family had been fully informed about it from the beginning.
