Pune Realtor Was Terrified Of Heights. Police Say His Fiancée Used That Fear To Lead Him To '400-Foot Death'

Last Updated:June 23, 2026, 19:48 IST

Investigators have established that Ketan Agrawal suffered from severe acrophobia—an intense, paralysing fear of heights

In a disturbing development that has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra, the Pune Rural Police have uncovered a sinister murder plot behind what was initially reported as a tragic trekking mishap at Lohagad Fort. Authorities have arrested 20-year-old Siya Goyal and her secret partner, 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary, for allegedly orchestrating the cold-blooded murder of Goyal’s fiancé, Ketan Vishal Agrawal. The 26-year-old real-estate director plunged nearly 400 feet into a jagged gorge on June 18. While Goyal initially blamed the fatal fall on fierce winds and an accidental slip during a photo session, rigorous forensic and digital investigations have exposed a calculated blueprint for betrayal.

Weaponising an Absolute Phobia

The most harrowing revelation emerging from the police interrogation is the psychological manipulation used to draw the victim to the historic fort. Investigators have established that Ketan Agrawal suffered from severe acrophobia—an intense, paralysing fear of heights. Because of this condition, Agrawal had flatly refused multiple invitations to visit the high-altitude fort over the preceding weeks, preferring to avoid steep terrains entirely.

However, Goyal systematically chipped away at his resistance, eventually exploiting his deep affection for her by framing the high-altitude trek as a mandatory, intimate pre-birthday celebration. Driven by the desire to please his fiancée ahead of their upcoming grand winter wedding, Agrawal reluctantly agreed to confront his worst fear, entirely unaware that his vulnerability was being weaponised against him.

A Repeated Blueprint for Elimination

The conspiracy ran far deeper than a single impulsive act. According to senior police officials, the lethal push on June 18 was actually the duo’s second attempt on Agrawal’s life within a single week. On June 14, Goyal had managed to coax Agrawal to the same location, where the co-conspirators planned to startle him into falling by creating a false panic regarding a snake attack. That initial attempt failed when Agrawal’s instincts kept him away from the precipice.

Determined to eliminate him as an obstacle to their secret relationship, the duo pivoted to physical force. While Goyal kept Agrawal distracted near a precarious ledge under the guise of capturing photographs, Chaudhary quietly closed in from behind, ensuring the real-estate executive was violently cast into the abyss.

Unravelling the Narrative

The “flawless" facade crafted by Goyal began to crumble when Agrawal’s family fiercely contested the initial accidental death report. Recognising that Ketan’s severe aversion to heights made the casual photography narrative highly implausible, they urged a comprehensive probe.

The Lonavala Rural Police and the local crime branch subsequently retrieved a damning digital trail from Goyal’s mobile device, revealing continuous coordination with Chaudhary. Further scrutiny exposed that Goyal had recently shredded her own passport in a hotel washroom to deliberately sabotage a planned pre-wedding trip to Bali with Agrawal, ensuring his final days were restricted to local terrains where the crime could be executed. Both accused now face stringent charges of murder and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

About the Author

Pathikrit Sen Gupta

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra...Read More

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