The investigation into the alleged murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal has taken a significant turn after the cab driver who drove Ketan and his fiancée Siya Goyal to Mumbai Airport made fresh claims about the events leading up to their cancelled Bali trip.
According to the driver, Siya stopped the cab on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, asked him to open the vehicle’s boot, and removed an unidentified item from her purse. The revelation has gained importance as investigators continue probing the mysterious disappearance of Ketan’s passport, which ultimately forced the cancellation of the couple’s pre-wedding trip to Bali.
Cab Driver Recalls the Journey to Mumbai Airport
Cab driver Vaibhav Jadhav, speaking to Aaj Tak correspondent Shrikrishna Panchal, said he picked up the passengers from Pune at around 10 am.
He claimed that Siya initially refused to board the cab and was persuaded by her brother Sahil Goyal to get inside. The cab later reached Ravet, where Ketan Agarwal joined the journey.
During the drive on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Siya allegedly requested a stop at a food mall for tea. About ten minutes later, she returned and asked the driver to open the boot. Jadhav alleged that Siya then took out something from her purse while standing near the boot, although he could not identify the item.
After waiting another 15 to 20 minutes, the passengers resumed their journey to Mumbai Airport.
Missing Passport Sparks Suspicion
Jadhav said that after dropping the group at Mumbai Airport, he drove about 200 metres before receiving a call that a small bag had been left inside the cab. He immediately returned the bag.
Soon after, he received another call claiming that Ketan’s passport was missing and might have been left in the vehicle.
The driver stated that he had already checked the cab and informed them that the passport was not there. He was reportedly asked to make a video call showing the vehicle’s interior, but the passport still could not be found.
Jadhav said he later returned to the airport, where Ketan and Sahil personally searched the cab. Despite a thorough inspection, the passport remained missing.
Driver Claims Siya and Her Brother Argued Throughout the Journey
The cab driver further alleged that Siya Goyal and her brother Sahil argued continuously from Pune until the cab reached Ravet, where Ketan boarded.
He reiterated that Siya had taken an unidentified object from the boot area after requesting him to open it but maintained that he did not know what the item was.
Police Believe Passport Disappearance Was Part of a Larger Conspiracy
According to the Pune Rural Police, the disappearance of Ketan Agarwal’s passport was not an isolated incident but part of a larger conspiracy that allegedly culminated in his death at Lohagad Fort.
Investigators suspect that Siya Goyal deliberately stole and destroyed Ketan’s passport to prevent him from travelling to Bali for their scheduled pre-wedding photoshoot on June 6.
The cancellation of the international trip has now become a crucial element in the ongoing murder investigation.
Ketan’s Father Calls Passport Incident Highly Suspicious
Ketan Agarwal’s father, Vishal Agarwal, has questioned the circumstances surrounding the missing passport.
He said that four people were travelling together from Pune to Mumbai for the Bali trip and that all passports, foreign currency, credit cards, driving licences, and valuables had been placed inside a single pouch.
According to him, after reaching Mumbai Airport, every traveller had their passport except Ketan, raising serious concerns about how only his document disappeared.
Because of the missing passport, Ketan was forced to cancel his trip and return home.
Police Recreate the Crime Scene at Lohagad Fort
On Sunday morning, Pune Rural Police took Siya Goyal to Lohagad Fort to recreate the alleged murder scene.
Using a mannequin, investigators reconstructed the sequence of events surrounding Ketan Agarwal’s death on June 18. During the exercise, the dummy was pushed from the fort to help investigators understand how the incident unfolded.
The crime scene reconstruction is expected to play a key role in corroborating witness statements and forensic findings.
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Father Appeals for Witnesses to Come Forward
During a candlelight march demanding justice for his son, Vishal Agarwal made an emotional appeal to the public.
Addressing residents, family members, and supporters gathered at Belmondo Society in Gahunje near Pune, he urged anyone who was present at Lohagad Fort on June 18 to cooperate with the investigation.
He said several visitors may have witnessed crucial events surrounding Ketan’s death and requested them to share any information with the police to help ensure justice.
BY JESSICA SABHARWAL
