A hoodie in June heat: The CCTV clue that led cops to Pune fort murder accused
What initially appeared to be a tragic trekking accident at Pune’s historic Lohagad Fort turned into a murder investigation after one unusual detail caught the
What initially appeared to be a tragic trekking accident at Pune’s historic Lohagad Fort turned into a murder investigation after one unusual detail caught the attention of police — a man wearing a hoodie in the scorching heat of 33 degrees Celsius. A CCTV camera installed near the fort’s ticket counter captured the hooded man, later identified as Chetan Chaudhary, on June 18 trailing 26-year-old Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal and his fiance Siya Goyal (20). Just hours later, Ketan was dead. Read Full Story The man’s suspicious movements, concealed face and unusual clothing prompted investigators to revisit the circumstances surrounding Ketan’s death, which had initially been registered as an accidental fall. In a deadly twist to what would have been a dream wedding, police on Tuesday said Ketan was pushed into the gorge by Siya and her lover Chetan (22). Both Siya and Chetan were taken into custody, and police said they confessed during questioning. THE MAN WEARING A HOODIE IN JUNE A police officer involved in the investigation said the initial probe raised questions about the circumstances of Ketan’s death. "While investigating the case, we stumbled upon certain circumstances surrounding the incident that raised suspicion and prompted a deeper probe. We checked the CCTV cameras installed at the ticket counter of the fort, where we spotted Ketan and Siya walking together," the officer said. While analysing the footage closely, investigators noticed another person following the couple.
"The man was wearing shorts and a hoodie. The front part of the hoodie was pulled so low that his face could not be seen. Additionally, the man was wearing a headset over the hoodie. In another footage clip, we noticed Siya suddenly looking back and, at the same time, the man in the hoodie suddenly sitting down," the official said. The officer said investigators later checked the weather conditions at the time of the incident. "He said they later checked the temperature of that particular time on June 18 and found out that it was 33 degrees Celsius and wondered why anyone would wear a hoodie in such heat." The unusual sight of a person covering his face in such weather became a key lead. THOUSANDS OF CALLS AND DIGITAL TRAIL After the CCTV footage, police expanded the probe and analysed technical evidence, including call detail records and digital communication data. According to investigators, Siya’s call records revealed extensive communication with Chetan. "We found thousands of calls exchanged between the two over an extended period, including several conversations lasting for hours," the officer said. "The technical analysis established a close connection between the duo and pointed towards a well-thought-out conspiracy. We then examined photographs and social media profiles linked to Chaudhary. A comparison of those images with CCTV footage from the fort showing a hooded individual in the area helped police narrow their focus on him," he added.
The BriefWire