The investigation into the murder of Pune-based real estate businessman Ketan Agarwal has taken a significant legal turn after advocate Aashutosh Srivastava served a ₹10 crore defamation notice on Sahil Goyal, the brother of prime accused Siya Goyal. The notice follows a dispute over Siya’s legal representation and alleges that Sahil made false and defamatory public statements that seriously harmed the advocate’s professional reputation. While both parties have put forward conflicting claims, the issue is now expected to be decided through the judicial process.
Media Interaction Disparagements and Deceptive Signature Claims
According to the legal notice, Sahil Goyal publicly stated during a media interaction that his family had never appointed advocate Aashutosh Srivastava to represent Siya Goyal. He further alleged that the advocate might have obtained Siya’s signatures on certain legal documents through deception and without the family’s knowledge. Describing these allegations as false, misleading and defamatory, Srivastava has demanded ₹10 crore in damages, besides seeking a public apology and a written undertaking that such statements will not be repeated.
Conflicting Vakalatnama Submissions and Courtroom Repudiations
The dispute also came before the Vadgaon Maval court during the latest hearing in the murder case. Advocate Aashutosh Srivastava appeared before the court claiming to represent Siya Goyal and submitted a vakalatnama that he stated had been duly signed by her. However, during the proceedings, Siya informed the court that advocate Vipul Dushing was her authorised legal counsel. Members of her family also reiterated that Dushing alone had been formally engaged to represent her in the case.
Before the hearing, Sahil Goyal had publicly stated that the family had already filed an affidavit before the court clarifying that only advocate Vipul Dushing had authority to appear for Siya. He also alleged that Aashutosh Srivastava had been threatening family members despite having no valid authorisation to represent the accused. These statements subsequently became the basis for the defamation notice issued by Srivastava.
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Adult Competency Validations and Professional Standing Damages
In response, advocate Aashutosh Srivastava has maintained that his legal team met Siya Goyal personally after she sought legal assistance and that she voluntarily executed a vakalatnama authorising them to represent her. He asserted that Siya is an adult, fully competent to appoint legal counsel of her own choice, and that the vakalatnama submitted before the court bears her genuine signatures. According to him, the allegations made against him have caused serious damage to his professional standing and reputation.
As of now, Sahil Goyal has not publicly responded to the defamation notice. The conflicting claims made by both sides regarding Siya’s legal representation are expected to be examined by the court as part of the ongoing judicial proceedings.
Pre-Crime Reconnaissance Inquiries and Digital Asset Recovery Regimes
Meanwhile, the investigation into Ketan Agarwal’s murder continues to advance. During the latest hearing, investigators sought an extension of the custody of the accused and informed the court that the probe had revealed indications that Siya Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary had allegedly visited Lohagad Fort before the incident to identify the location where the crime was later carried out.
Investigators are continuing efforts to recover deleted digital evidence, reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the murder, identify additional witnesses through CCTV footage from the Lohagad Fort area, recover Ketan Agarwal’s missing passport, and confront the accused with newly identified witnesses. Officials believe these steps may help establish the complete sequence of events and strengthen the evidentiary record.
According to investigators, 20-year-old Siya Goyal and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary, allegedly conspired to murder Ketan Agarwal because Siya reportedly did not wish to marry him and believed that cancelling the marriage would bring disrepute to her family. Police allege that the accused planned to push Agarwal from a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune district. Both accused remain under arrest, and the investigation is continuing.
