Ujjwal Nikam To Be Special Prosecutor In Ketan Agarwal Murder Case
Police said Siya and Ketan had gone to Lohagad Fort a day before her birthday. Investigators alleged that, on the pretext of taking a photograph, Ketan was asked to stand near the edge of a cliff.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday assured the “harshest punishment” for those involved in the alleged murder of Ketan Agarwal, who police say was pushed to his death from Lohagad Fort by his fiancée and her alleged lover. He also accepted the request of the victim’s family to appoint senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the case.
Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, met Mr. Fadnavis and sought justice for his son. The Chief Minister assured the family of prompt action, directed that the case be tried in a fast-track court, and instructed the Law and Judiciary Department to appoint Mr. Nikam as the SPP. Mr. Nikam, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha member, has reportedly agreed to take up the case.
After the meeting, Vishal Agarwal said he had urged the Chief Minister to ensure the accused received the strictest punishment. “The CM assured me that the case will be fast-tracked. I have also been informed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the matter,” he said.
According to police, 24-year-old Ketan Agarwal died on June 18 after allegedly falling from Lohagad Fort near Pune. His 20-year-old fiancée, Siya Goyal, initially told his family that he had slipped during a trek, and the death was treated as an accident. However, after examining CCTV footage and other evidence, investigators concluded that Siya and her alleged partner, Chetan Chaudhary, had murdered Ketan.
Police said Siya and Ketan had gone to Lohagad Fort a day before her birthday. Investigators alleged that, on the pretext of taking a photograph, Ketan was asked to stand near the edge of a cliff. They further alleged that Siya and Chetan then pushed him into a gorge about 400 feet deep.
Calling the incident “extremely shocking and incomprehensible”, Mr. Fadnavis said it reflected a disturbing social trend that required deeper introspection. “As a society, we need to reflect on why educated young men and women from good families develop such criminal intent and a desire for revenge. This is not merely a criminal issue; it also has a social angle,” he said.
