The high-profile Ketan Agarwal murder case has taken a fresh legal turn after Advocate Aashutosh Srivastava, who claims to represent the prime accused Siya Goyal, issued a ₹10 crore defamation notice to her brother, Sahil Goyal, over statements questioning his authority to appear in court on her behalf.
According to the legal notice, Srivastava alleges that Sahil Goyal made false and defamatory remarks to the media by claiming that the family had never appointed him as Siya Goyal’s lawyer and suggesting that he had obtained her signatures without proper authorization. The advocate has demanded a public apology, withdrawal of the statements, and compensation of ₹10 crore for alleged damage to his professional reputation.
Dispute Over Legal Representation
The controversy centers on who is officially representing Siya Goyal in court. Advocate Srivastava maintains that Siya voluntarily signed a valid vakalatnama, legally authorizing him to represent her. However, Sahil Goyal has stated that the family has appointed Advocate Vipul Dushing as Siya’s legal counsel and disputes Srivastava’s claim. Reports indicate that the disagreement surfaced during recent court proceedings, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing murder investigation.
Background of the Murder Case
Ketan Agarwal, a Pune-based realtor, died after falling from Lohagad Fort on June 18. While the incident was initially treated as an accident, investigators later alleged that it was a planned murder. Police have accused Siya Goyal and her alleged associate, Chetan Chaudhary, of conspiring to kill Agarwal by pushing him off the fort. Both accused are currently facing investigation, while the case continues to unfold in court.
Latest Development
The ₹10 crore defamation notice has shifted attention beyond the murder investigation, creating a parallel legal battle over Siya Goyal’s representation. As the criminal case proceeds, the dispute between the advocate and the accused’s family is expected to be addressed separately through legal proceedings.
