I like Ketan, want to marry him: What Siya told parents before wedding was fixed

The parents of Siya Goyal, the prime accused in the murder of her fiance Ketan Agarwal in Pune, have broken their silence for the first time, insisting they had no knowledge of her alleged relationship with co-accused Chetan Chaudhary. They claimed that before finalising the marriage, Siya had repeatedly assured the family that she liked Ketan, wanted to marry him, and had no relationship with anyone else.

Speaking to India Today TV, Siya's mother, Pooja Goyal, acknowledged that Siya and Chetan had known each other after meeting during a cricket tournament but insisted the family was only aware of a friendship. She said the family repeatedly sought Siya's consent before fixing the marriage with Ketan.

"Before we fixed Siya's marriage, we asked her repeatedly, at least ten times. We told her, 'Siya, we are planning your marriage. Do you like Ketan? Do you want to go ahead with this marriage?'. Every time she told us, 'Yes, I like Ketan'," the mother said.

According to her, there was never any indication that Siya was unwilling to marry Ketan or that she was involved with someone else.

She replied, "Yes, Mummy. I like everything, and I want to marry him. I don't have anything with anyone else."

Ketan Agarwal, 26, died days ago after falling into a deep gorge at Lohagad Fort near Pune, in a death that was initially treated as an accident. Subsequent police probe found that his bride-to-be, Siya, and her alleged lover, Chetan, conspired to murder him by pushing him off the cliff during a trek. Both have been arrested.

Siya's father, Praveen Goyal, also denied having any knowledge of his daughter's alleged relationship with Chetan, saying he had never seen or met him before.

"I had never even seen Chetan Chaudhary before. I had never spoken to him. We had absolutely no information about any relationship between Siya and him," he told India Today TV.

HOW THE MARRIAGE WAS FIXED

According to Praveen Goyal, the proposal first came during a family wedding in Goa, when relatives of Ketan's family expressed interest in Siya. Since she was only 19 at the time, the family initially declined, saying they were in no hurry to get her married.

The proposal resurfaced at another wedding in Karjat, where relatives encouraged the Goyal family to consider the match, describing the Agarwals as a respected family. After discussing the proposal with his wife, Praveen Goyal agreed to take the talks forward.

The couple said both families consented to the marriage, which culminated in an engagement ceremony in February.

'KETAN WAS LIKE MY OWN SON'

Recalling his interactions with Ketan, Praveen Goyal said the businessman frequently visited their home and shared a close bond with the family. "He used to address me as 'Papa ji'. I had started treating him like my own son," Praveen said.

Referring to allegations that Ketan had expressed concerns to his father about Siya's phone often being busy, the father said the Agarwal family never discussed those concerns with them.

"If Ketan had any doubts, his family should have spoken to us. Nobody ever called us to say that Siya's phone was frequently busy or that she might be talking to someone else," he said.

'NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE'

The parents said they never noticed any discord between the couple. Siya's mother claimed that her daughter and Ketan appeared happy together throughout their engagement and the couple regularly spoke over video calls. Ketan had visited their home for dinner, and preparations for their future continued without interruption.

She also revealed that the family had begun making arrangements for the couple's planned Bali trip after marriage and had spent nearly Rs 50,000 on shopping for Siya.

"If Siya had ever told us that she did not want this marriage, why would we have continued with all these preparations?" she asked.

'FORT TREKKING WAS KETAN'S IDEA'

The parents claimed the Lohagad trekking trip, where the murder took place, was a plan initiated by Ketan.

According to Pooja Goyal, Siya had initially expressed reluctance because the couple had plans to travel to Mahabaleshwar the following day, but Ketan persuaded her to join the trek.

"Siya told me, 'Mummy, Ketan is asking me to come for trekking, but I don't want to go. Please ask him not to insist.' But Ketan's mother told her, 'If Ketan is asking you to come, then go. He may have planned a birthday surprise for you'," Siya's mother said.

She claimed chats on Siya's phone would support this version.

FATHER SAYS ALLEGATIONS CAME AS A SHOCK

Praveen Goyal said he was devastated when he learnt that his daughter had been arrested in connection with the murder.

"I still find it impossible to believe my daughter could do something like this. She never lied to me and always followed the right path," he said, adding that the shock was so severe that he was admitted to the intensive care unit.

However, he also said that if the allegations were ultimately proved in court, she should receive the strictest punishment.

"If my daughter is found guilty, the court should not delay justice. She should be given the same punishment. As a father, I cannot say anything more than that," he said.

Police have alleged that Siya Goyal and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, conspired to kill Ketan Agarwal by pushing him into a gorge at Pune's Lohagad Fort on June 18. The case is currently under investigation, and both accused remain in judicial custody.