Daijiworld Media Network – Pune

Pune, Jul 2: Siya Goyal, the prime accused in the murder of her fiancé and realtor Ketan Agarwal, has consented to undergo a polygraph test as police intensify their investigation into the alleged murder at Lohagad Fort in Maharashtra.

Her lawyer, Vipul Dusing, said the 20-year-old gave her consent to the Lonavala Rural Police on Thursday. Under law, a polygraph test can only be conducted with the accused's consent.

Police have also approached a court seeking permission to conduct polygraph examinations on Goyal and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, who is also an accused in the case.

According to police, Goyal was taken to a location in Pune on Thursday where she and Chaudhary had allegedly rehearsed pushing Agarwal off a cliff before carrying out the murder.

Investigators said the rehearsal took place at a hillock near a club in Lullanagar in May.

"Investigation has revealed that Siya and Chetan had rehearsed at a hillock-like space near a club in Lullanagar how to push Ketan off the cliff at Lohagad Fort. Today, Siya was taken to the spot, where she identified the place where they had allegedly carried out the rehearsal," a Pune Rural Police official said.

Police said they are still verifying the exact date of the rehearsal and other details.

During a search of Goyal's residence in Pune's Market Yard area, police recovered the clothes she allegedly wore on Jun 18, the day of the incident.

Goyal and Chaudhary are accused of pushing 25-year-old Agarwal into a 400-foot gorge at Lohagad Fort on Jun 18. Agarwal and Goyal were scheduled to marry in November this year.

The duo was arrested after the incident and remains in police custody until Jul 3.

Police said they have collected substantial technical and digital evidence, which is being analysed and cross-verified.

Investigators are relying on the proposed polygraph tests to determine who pushed Agarwal from the cliff, as there were no eyewitnesses to the incident. The tests are also expected to help verify conflicting statements made by the two accused, who have blamed each other for the killing.

Police are further examining whether Goyal gave a pre-arranged signal before the attack, the extent of planning during a meeting at a café a day before the incident, details of three alleged failed attempts and rehearsals, and whether she deleted evidence from Chaudhary's mobile phone while it was in her possession. They are also probing her alleged reluctance to marry Agarwal and the nature of her relationship with Chaudhary.