Key facts
- Lohagad Fort closed to tourists amid murder investigation
- Victim: Ketan Agarwal; accused: fiancée Siya Goyal
- Goyal allegedly kept Agarwal's phone after the murder
- Snapchat video of Goyal and alleged lover found days before murder
- No direct witnesses; police building circumstantial case
Pune's Lohagad Fort, a popular heritage trekking destination in Maharashtra, has been closed to the public after it became the focal point of the Ketan Agarwal murder case — and subsequently a magnet for tourists seeking selfies at the crime site. The closure was ordered as police continue their investigation into the death of Agarwal, who was allegedly pushed to his death by his fiancée, Siya Goyal.
The case has generated extraordinary public attention, not least because of the details emerging from the investigation. Police have said that Goyal kept Agarwal's phone with her for some time after his murder — a key piece of evidence suggesting deliberate concealment. A Snapchat video of Goyal and her alleged lover, filmed days before the murder, has also surfaced and is being examined by investigators.
Author Chetan Bhagat weighed in publicly, saying that if Siya Goyal is guilty, the law will punish her — a statement that reflects the degree to which the case has entered mainstream public discourse. Legal analysts note that with no direct witnesses, investigators will need to build their case through circumstantial evidence, digital forensics, and what some have described as passing a 'Panchsheel' test of corroborating facts.
The fort's closure underscores a troubling dimension: the crime site drew a rush of visitors treating it as a dark-tourism attraction rather than a place of tragedy. With the investigation ongoing, authorities have made clear the fort will remain off-limits until the site has been fully processed.