The picturesque hills of Lohagad Fort near Pune, usually a magnet for trekkers and history enthusiasts, turned into the site of a chilling crime on June 18, when 24-year-old Ketan Agarwal reportedly fell to his death from a cliff edge. What initially seemed like a tragic trekking mishap has since spiralled into a case that police say points squarely to premeditated murder, allegedly orchestrated by his own fiancée and her secret lover.
According to police, Ketan had travelled to Lohagad Fort along with his fiancée, 20-year-old Siya Goyal, and a man identified as Chetan Chaudhary, 22. The trio reportedly set out together for what should have been an ordinary day trip to the historic fort, a popular weekend destination known for its scenic monsoon trails and ancient ramparts. But Ketan never made it back down the hill. Investigators say he was pushed off a cliff, and what looked like an accidental fall was, in fact, a calculated act.
Police have since taken both Siya and Chetan into custody, alleging that the two were involved in a romantic relationship even as Siya remained engaged to Ketan. The investigation reportedly suggests that the fort visit was not a coincidental outing but a planned trip during which the alleged murder was carried out. Officials have been firm in stating that this was not a case of a wrong step on treacherous terrain, but a deliberate act driven by the complications of a hidden affair.
The case took an emotionally charged turn when Ketan's brother spoke to investigators, offering a statement that has since resonated widely: "If she didn't like Ketan, she could've just said no." The remark captures the underlying grief and disbelief gripping the family — the sense that whatever conflicts existed in the relationship, they did not have to end in violence. For a family already reeling from the sudden loss of a young man, the revelation that his own fiancée may have been involved has only deepened the sense of betrayal.
Cases involving love triangles turning fatal are unfortunately not new to Indian crime reporting, but the setting of this one — a historic fort visited by lakhs of tourists every year — has added to the shock value surrounding the case. Lohagad, located roughly 52 kilometres from Pune, is usually associated with families, college groups and photography enthusiasts rather than crime scenes, making the incident all the more unsettling for regular visitors and local trekking communities.
As the investigation proceeds, police are expected to piece together phone records, eyewitness accounts from other visitors at the fort that day, and forensic evidence from the site to establish the exact sequence of events leading up to Ketan's fall. Both accused remain in custody as further questioning continues, with authorities working to determine the precise roles each allegedly played in the events atop Lohagad Fort that day.
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