Gait Analysis Explained: How Chetan Chaudhary's Walk Could Crack The Ketan Murder Case

Last Updated:June 30, 2026, 13:51 IST

As the investigation enters a crucial forensic phase, police have informed a court that they now intend to conduct a gait analysis of co-accused Chetan Chaudhary.

What initially appeared to be a tragic trekking accident at Pune’s Lohagad Fort has rapidly evolved into one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched murder investigations. Pune Rural Police allege that 25-year-old realtor Ketan Agarwal was not the victim of an accidental fall, but of a carefully planned conspiracy involving his fiance, 20-year-old Siya Goyal, and her alleged lover, 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary. Investigators claim the duo made multiple failed attempts before Ketan was allegedly pushed into a gorge on June 18.

As the investigation enters a crucial forensic phase, police have informed a court that they now intend to conduct a gait analysis of co-accused Chetan Chaudhary. The move comes after CCTV footage from Lohagad Fort captured a hooded individual believed to be Chaudhary. Since the person’s face is concealed, investigators believe his manner of walking could help establish whether the individual seen on camera is indeed the accused.

Read More: Did Chetan Change Hoodie Before Killing Ketan? Police Reveal Plan To Evade CCTVs | Exclusive

The decision has drawn attention to a forensic technique that is increasingly being used around the world when conventional facial identification is not possible.

What Is Gait Analysis?

Gait analysis is the scientific study of how a person walks. It examines an individual’s movement patterns – including stride length, walking speed, posture, arm swing, hip movement, foot placement, knee motion and body balance – to identify characteristics that may be unique to that person.

Every individual develops a distinctive walking style based on their skeletal structure, muscle coordination, body proportions, previous injuries and natural habits. While two people may look similar in height or build, their gait often differs in subtle but measurable ways.

Forensic experts use specialised software to analyse video footage frame by frame and compare these movement patterns with fresh recordings of a suspect walking under similar conditions.

Unlike fingerprint or DNA evidence, gait analysis is not intended to establish identity with absolute certainty. Instead, it serves as corroborative evidence that can strengthen or weaken an investigative theory when combined with other evidence.

Why Are Police Using It In Ketan Agarwal Murder Case?

According to Pune Rural Police, CCTV footage from Lohagad Fort allegedly captured Chetan Chaudhary moving around the area on the day of Ketan Agarwal’s death. However, the person seen in the footage had his face covered with a hoodie, making facial recognition difficult.

To overcome this limitation, investigators have proposed recreating the accused’s movements.

While seeking an extension of police custody, the prosecution informed the court that investigators would make Chaudhary wear clothing similar to that seen in the CCTV footage and record him walking in a comparable manner. The recreated footage will then be compared with the original CCTV footage through gait analysis to determine whether the walking patterns match.

Police told the court, “We are planning to conduct a gait analysis of Chetan. We have CCTV footage showing him walking while wearing a hoodie to hide his face. The gait analysis will compare his locomotion in the CCTV footage with the recreated video to determine whether the walking patterns match."

The forensic comparison is expected to become another piece of circumstantial evidence in the broader investigation.

Investigators say the suspect deliberately attempted to conceal his identity.

According to the police, CCTV footage showed an individual wearing a hoodie despite temperatures being around 33 degrees Celsius. Investigators later alleged that after reaching Lohagad Fort, Chaudhary changed from the hoodie into a T-shirt in an apparent effort to avoid attracting attention and make identification more difficult.

Because the face was largely obscured, conventional facial comparison techniques became less useful, prompting investigators to rely on body movement analysis instead.

How Is Gait Analysis Carried Out?

Although methods differ across forensic laboratories, investigators generally follow several steps:

• They obtain the highest-quality CCTV footage available.
• The footage is enhanced and stabilised where possible.
• A fresh recording of the suspect is made under similar walking conditions.
• Experts compare factors such as stride length, walking rhythm, body posture, arm movement, foot angle and overall locomotion.
• A report is prepared indicating whether the movement characteristics are consistent or inconsistent with the person seen in the CCTV footage.

The process is particularly useful when suspects deliberately hide their faces using masks, helmets, scarves or hoodies.

Forensic experts generally regard gait analysis as supporting or corroborative evidence, rather than definitive proof of identity.

Walking style can be influenced by footwear, injuries, fatigue, terrain, carrying objects or even conscious attempts to alter one’s movement. Because of these variables, investigators typically use gait analysis alongside other evidence such as CCTV timelines, witness statements, digital records, call data, location evidence and forensic findings.

Courts generally assess gait analysis in conjunction with the entire body of evidence rather than treating it as conclusive on its own.

On June 29, the Vadgaon Maval court extended the police custody of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary until July 3 after investigators argued that several important aspects of the probe remained incomplete.

Police told the court they still needed to conduct the proposed gait analysis, compare CCTV footage with recreated movements, recover Ketan Agarwal’s missing passport, which investigators believe was burnt after the murder, retrieve allegedly deleted digital evidence, verify the exact sequence of events at Lohagad Fort, and continue forensic examination of electronic devices.

What Has The Investigation Revealed So Far?

According to Pune Rural Police, the murder was allegedly premeditated. Investigators claim Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary had been in frequent contact for months and allegedly considered Ketan an obstacle to their relationship. Police allege the pair made multiple unsuccessful attempts to kill him before June 18. During a recent crime scene reconstruction at Lohagad Fort, investigators recreated the sequence of events using a dummy and alleged that Siya gave a pre-arranged signal by sitting down before Chaudhary pushed Ketan into the gorge.

Police also say they are investigating the disappearance of Ketan’s passport, examining deleted digital evidence, reconstructing the movements of both accused and verifying every stage of the alleged conspiracy. The proposed gait analysis is expected to form one part of this larger chain of circumstantial and forensic evidence as investigators attempt to establish who was captured in the CCTV footage from Lohagad Fort.

About the Author

Pragati Ratti

Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures...Read More

News explainers Gait Analysis Explained: How Chetan Chaudhary's Walk Could Crack The Ketan Murder Case

Read More