Lohagad Fort Death: Court Refuses Police Custody, Sends Accused to Judicial Remand
Maharashtra's Vadgaon Maval court on Friday (July 3, 2026) remanded accused Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary to 14 days of judicial custody in the Ketan Agrawal murder case. The court dismissed the Lonavala Rural Police's request for additional custody to verify investigation aspects and complete scientific procedures.
The accused were produced before the magistrate earlier in the day. The investigating agency had sought two days of police custody, citing pending verification of certain investigation aspects and scientific procedures. Police argued that questioning regarding discrepancies in statements, digital evidence, and technical matters required custody.
The defence counsel opposed the application, asserting that the investigation had progressed sufficiently and that custody extension was unnecessary. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the police remand plea and ordered judicial custody.
Siya had previously consented to a polygraph test, a procedure that records psychological responses during questioning. Police are seeking court permission to conduct further scientific investigation methods.
The investigation has gathered evidence through crime scene reconstruction, digital evidence, mobile data, call detail records, and forensic examinations. These documents have been submitted to the court.
Ketan Agrawal died after falling from Pune's Lohagad Fort on June 18. Police suspect Siya and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary pushed him.
A fast-track court has been constituted for the case, with senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam appointed as Special Public Prosecutor.
