Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A Pune court on Thursday remanded Siya Goel and Chetan Chaudhary to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the murder of realtor Ketan Agarwal. The two accused were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class A.M. Vibhute after the expiry of their police custody.
The prosecution sought a three-day extension of police custody, arguing that chats recovered from the mobile phones of Goel and Chaudhary contained signs and coded language, making further custodial interrogation necessary to decipher the conversations.
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Counsel appearing for the accused opposed the plea, contending that the police had already been given sufficient time to investigate the case and that any further custodial interrogation was unwarranted.
After hearing both sides, the court rejected the prosecution’s request and remanded the accused to judicial custody until July 16.
Goel (20) and Chaudhary (22) are accused of pushing Agarwal to his death from a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune district on June 18. Agarwal and Goel were engaged and were scheduled to marry in November this year.
GOYAL’S VULGAR GESTURE
Earlier in the day, Pune Rural Police took Goel to her residence and other locations as part of the investigation.
As police escorted Goel out of her residence, she was seen making an obscene gesture by raising her middle finger towards television cameras gathered outside. Videos of the incident were widely circulated on social media.
Police have not officially commented on the incident and have maintained that their focus remains on the murder investigation.
THIRD PERSON UNDER SCANNER
Investigators have also identified a third individual, believed to be Chaudhary’s classmate, sources said.
The man, a native of Maharashtra’s Beed district, currently works for a private company in Pune’s Balewadi area.
According to sources, Goel and Chaudhary had allegedly discussed their plan to kill Agarwal with him before the incident. They also allegedly invited him to accompany them to Lohagad Fort on June 18, but he did not go with them.
Police are questioning the man to verify these claims.
Sources further claimed that he told investigators he had advised the two accused not to go ahead with their alleged plan. Investigators are now trying to determine the extent of his knowledge of the alleged conspiracy and whether he remained in contact with the accused after the incident.
According to sources, Chaudhary met the man shortly after Agarwal’s death, while Goel also contacted him later. Police are verifying these claims by analysing call detail records, digital chats and other electronic evidence.
POLICE EXAMINE REHEARSAL SITE
Earlier on Thursday, Pune Rural Police took Goel to a location where, according to investigators, she and Chaudhary had allegedly rehearsed pushing a person off a cliff before the incident at Lohagad Fort.
Police officials said the location is near a club in Pune’s Lullanagar area. During the visit, Goel allegedly identified the spot where the rehearsal is believed to have taken place.
Investigators are now trying to establish the exact date in May when the alleged rehearsal occurred and identify who else, if anyone, was present.
POLICE SEEK POLYGRAPH TEST
Pune Rural Police have also approached the Vadgaon Maval court seeking permission to conduct polygraph tests on both accused.
Police said the examinations can only be conducted after obtaining the court’s permission and the voluntary consent of the accused.
Investigators hope the tests will help verify the consistency of the accused’s statements with the evidence collected during the probe.
Police have also recovered clothing from Goel’s residence that investigators believe she wore on June 18. The garments will be sent for forensic examination and matched with other evidence in the case.
Investigators said they have collected a substantial amount of digital and technical evidence, including mobile phone data, location records, call detail records, and chat logs to reconstruct an accurate timeline of the events surrounding Agarwal’s death.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
