Pune: Investigators probing the murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal have uncovered what they believe is a crucial piece of digital evidence — a phone conversation between the prime accused, Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, just 34 minutes before the fatal incident at Lohagad Fort.
Police sources said the call, traced through detailed Call Detail Records (CDRs), is being treated as one of the strongest indicators of an alleged pre-planned conspiracy. Investigators suspect the conversation was used to coordinate the final stage of the murder plan before Agarwal was allegedly pushed into a deep gorge.
According to officials, forensic examination of the accused persons’ mobile phones revealed the timing of the call, prompting cyber experts to closely analyse location data, internet activity and communication patterns. Investigators believe the conversation may have included information about the exact location and confirmation that the area was relatively deserted before the alleged attack.
The cyber investigation has also indicated that a significant amount of digital communication between the two accused may have been deleted in an attempt to erase evidence. Police are now working with forensic specialists to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, Instagram chats, voice recordings and other electronic data that could establish the sequence of events leading to the murder.
Officials familiar with the probe said investigators are matching recovered digital evidence with GPS records, IP logs and mobile tower locations to build a comprehensive timeline. The findings are expected to form an important part of the prosecution’s case, which alleges that the murder was carefully planned well before it was carried out.
Police have further claimed that the conspiracy had been in motion for several weeks and that an earlier attempt to kill Agarwal at the same fort had failed. During that incident, investigators allege, the victim managed to save himself after grabbing onto vegetation on the hillside. The accused allegedly disguised the incident as an accident before making another attempt days later.
The investigation has also revealed that Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary remained in frequent contact over several months. Authorities are now examining thousands of phone interactions between the two as they continue gathering evidence to determine the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.
Both accused remain in police custody, and the investigation is continuing. Officials say additional forensic findings and digital evidence are expected to strengthen the case before it is presented in court.
