On July 3, 2026, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, A M Vibhute, presiding over the Pune court, issued an order remanding Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary to judicial custody. The order directs that the accused shall remain in custody until July 16, 2026. The magistrate’s decision followed the production of the two individuals before the court after the expiry of their earlier police custody period.
The magistrate noted that the police had completed the initial phase of investigation and that the material collected warranted continued judicial oversight. The order reflects the court’s assessment that the accused require further detention to facilitate the ongoing investigation and to prevent any possible tampering with evidence or influence on witnesses.
Earlier, on June 23, 2026, the same court had remanded Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary to police custody for a period of seven days. That police custody was subsequently extended until July 3, 2026, the date on which the accused were produced before the magistrate. The extension of police custody was based on the police’s request for additional time to complete preliminary inquiries and to gather further evidence.
The case originates from an incident on June 18, 2026, at Lohagad Fort near Pune. Ketan Agarwal, whose death is the subject of the proceedings, was found at the base of a deep gorge. Initial observations by responding officers suggested the possibility of an accidental fall. However, as the investigation progressed, the Lonavla police indicated that the circumstances pointed toward a deliberate act rather than a mishap.
Following a complaint filed by the father of the deceased, the Lonavla police registered a first information report charging Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary with murder and criminal conspiracy. The charges allege that the accused pushed Ketan Agarwal into the gorge, resulting in his death. The police have stated that the investigation, including forensic examination and witness statements, has revealed evidence supporting the conspiracy theory.
The magistrate’s order emphasizes that the accused remain in judicial custody to ensure the integrity of the investigative process. The court did not express any opinion on the guilt or innocence of the individuals; the remand is solely a procedural measure aimed at preserving the status quo pending further inquiry.
Legal representatives for the accused have not been quoted in the available record regarding their response to the remand order. The prosecution, represented by the Lonavla police, has maintained that the material gathered thus far justifies the continued detention of the accused.
The next scheduled court appearance for Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary is set for July 16, 2026, when the magistrate will review the progress of the investigation and determine whether an extension of judicial custody is warranted or whether the matter should proceed to the next stage of trial.
Thus far, the proceedings have been confined to the remand phase, with the court focusing on the necessity of custody rather than the substantive merits of the case. The judicial approach reflects the standard practice in criminal matters where the liberty of the accused is balanced against the requirements of investigation and the protection of the judicial process.