In a major development in the sensational Lohagad Fort murder case, the Pune Rural Police have arrested a third person named Ritesh Hange for participating in the criminal conspiracy. Hange, a 22 year old friend of prime accused Chetan Choudhary, was taken into custody after investigators found evidence that he had prior knowledge of the plot to eliminate 25 year old Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal.
The tragedy took place on June 18 when Ketan died after falling off a steep cliff at the historic Lohagad Fort near Lonavala while on a trek. Initially, Ketan 20 year old fiancee, Siya Goyal, claimed that he accidentally slipped while clicking photographs near the edge. However, the case took a shocking turn when Ketan family suspected foul play and police uncovered CCTV footage showing Chetan following the couple in a hoodie. Police later arrested Siya and her lover Chetan, alleging that they deliberately pushed Ketan into the gorge to remove him as an obstacle to their relationship.
Friend Knew the Murder Plot and Kept in Touch After the Crime
Police officials revealed that Hange was fully aware of the sinister plot planned by Siya and Chetan. According to investigators, the couple had initially planned to break Ketan limbs and injure him before deciding to kill him at a remote spot and frame it as an accident. While Hange was invited to accompany them to Lohagad Fort on the day of the crime, he declined to go.
Call records show that immediately after pushing Ketan off the cliff, Chetan contacted Hange to inform him about the crime. Traced through mobile phone data, Hange has been remanded in police custody as officers probe deeper into the broader conspiracy.
