Pune Police Arrest Chetan’s Friend as Third Accused in Ketan Agrawal Murder Case
Pune Rural Police have arrested 22-year-old Ritesh Hange in connection with the murder of realtor Ketan Agrawal, making him the third accused arrested in the case. Hange is a friend of Chetan Choudhary, who is already in custody in the case.
Police allege that Hange was aware of the plan to kill Agrawal and was involved in discussions surrounding the conspiracy. Investigators say he knew about an earlier plan allegedly involving Chetan Choudhary and Siya Goyal to assault Agrawal before ultimately eliminating him.
According to police, after Agrawal was allegedly pushed from a cliff at Lohagad Fort on June 18, Chetan contacted Hange and informed him about the incident. Investigators are examining these communications as part of the evidence in the case.
The murder initially came under investigation after Agrawal, 26, died following a fall into a gorge at Lohagad Fort during a trekking trip with his fiancée, Siya Goyal. Police subsequently alleged that the fall was not accidental and that Goyal and Chetan were responsible for his death.
Police have alleged that Goyal and Chetan were in a relationship, while Agrawal and Goyal had become engaged in February. Investigators believe the relationship between Goyal and Chetan and Agrawal’s position as an obstacle to it formed the alleged motive for the murder.
The arrest of Hange indicates that investigators are now examining whether other people were aware of or assisted the alleged conspiracy. Police are also scrutinising communications and other evidence to establish the exact roles of those involved.
Hange was produced before a court and has been remanded to police custody until September 12. Further investigation into the alleged conspiracy is underway.
