'Siya Point' Craze Forces Police To Shut Lohagad Fort As Tourist Rush Hampers Murder Probe

Last Updated:July 01, 2026, 11:18 IST

According to top police sources and local authorities, the crowds had begun interfering with the ongoing investigation, prompting the Lonavala Rural Police to cordon off the site

What was once a quiet monsoon trekking destination has now become an unlikely hotspot for “crime tourism" in Pune.

The Lohagad Fort was temporarily closed to visitors on Tuesday after an unprecedented surge in tourist footfall following the murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, forcing investigators to evacuate visitors and seal portions of the fort to protect crucial evidence.

According to top police sources and local authorities, the crowds had begun interfering with the ongoing investigation, prompting the Lonavala Rural Police to cordon off the site for further crime-scene recreations and forensic procedures.

The fort reopened on Wednesday after the police completed the day’s investigative work.

25-30% Spike In Visitors

According to data tracked by local authorities, fort workers and the Lohagad-Visapur Development Forum, Lohagad Fort witnessed an immediate 25-30 per cent increase in overall visitor footfall within days of the murder plot coming to light.

Officials attribute the surge largely to nationwide television coverage and viral discussions on social media surrounding the case involving Siya Goyal, Ketan’s fiancée and the prime accused in the investigation.

The increased attention has transformed one of Maharashtra’s most popular trekking destinations into what locals describe as a site of “crime tourism".

‘Siya Point’

The biggest attraction for many visitors is the 350-foot cliff from where investigators allege Ketan Agarwal was pushed to his death.

According to local residents and trekking groups, tourists and social media content creators have informally begun referring to the location as “Siya Point".

Visitors arriving from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and neighbouring districts have reportedly altered their weekend travel plans specifically to visit the cliff featured extensively in news reports and online videos. Several vloggers have also been filming content from the location, further amplifying its popularity online.

Tourist Rush Began Affecting Investigation

The sudden influx soon became more than a crowd-management issue. According to police sources, the large number of visitors risked disturbing potential forensic evidence at the scene and complicated efforts to reconstruct the alleged sequence of events.

Investigators therefore decided to temporarily prohibit public access to the fort, evacuate visitors and secure the area so forensic teams and crime scene experts could carry out further investigative procedures without interference.

Police are continuing to recreate the sequence of events as part of their effort to strengthen the prosecution’s case, which is largely based on circumstantial evidence.

High-Profile Investigation

The investigation centres on the murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort, with police alleging that Siya Goyal and her lover and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary conspired to kill him to prevent Siya’s proposed marriage to Ketan.

The case has attracted widespread public attention because investigators are relying primarily on circumstantial, digital and forensic evidence. Police have previously acknowledged there are no eyewitnesses to the alleged push and no CCTV footage capturing the incident, making preservation of every possible piece of evidence critical to the prosecution.

With the case now under intense public scrutiny, investigators say ensuring the integrity of the crime scene has become as important as gathering fresh evidence, even if it means temporarily closing one of Maharashtra’s busiest monsoon trekking destinations.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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