Ketan Agarwal Case: Driver Claims Siya Opened Car Boot Before Passport Disappeared Ahead of Bali Trip

The investigation into the alleged murder of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal has taken a fresh turn after the cab driver who drove him and his fiancée Siya Goyal to Mumbai Airport claimed she asked him to stop on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and opened the car's boot shortly before Ketan's passport went missing. The driver's account has assumed importance as police investigate whether the disappearance of the passport was part of a larger conspiracy that eventually led to Ketan's death.

The claims were made by cab driver Vaibhav Jadhav in an interview with Aaj Tak, where he described the journey from Pune to Mumbai Airport on June 6.

Driver recounts airport journey

Jadhav said he picked up the passengers from Pune at around 10 am. According to him, Siya initially refused to get into the cab and her brother Sahil persuaded her to sit inside. The vehicle later stopped at Ravet, where Ketan joined the journey.

While travelling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Siya asked him to stop at a food mall for tea, Jadhav claimed. Around 10 minutes later, she returned and asked him to open the car's boot.

He alleged that Siya then took something out of her purse near the boot. About 15 to 20 minutes later, the passengers returned to the vehicle and the journey resumed.

Jadhav said he did not know what she had taken from the boot.

Passport reported missing after reaching airport

The driver said he dropped the group at Mumbai Airport before leaving the terminal.

A few minutes later, he received a call saying a small bag had been left behind in the cab. He returned the bag after driving only a short distance.

According to Jadhav, he received another call soon afterwards claiming Ketan's passport had been left inside the vehicle. He said he had already checked the cab and could not find it.

The driver alleged that he was asked to make a video call to show the interior of the cab. Even then, the passport was not found.

He later returned to the airport, where Ketan and Sahil searched the vehicle themselves. Despite checking the cab thoroughly, they were unable to locate the passport, he claimed.

Police suspect passport disappearance was planned

The missing passport has emerged as an important part of the investigation.

Earlier, Pune Rural Police said Siya Goyal allegedly stole and destroyed Ketan's passport to prevent him from travelling to Bali for their pre-wedding photoshoot. Investigators believe the disappearance of the document was not an isolated incident but part of a larger conspiracy that culminated in Ketan's death at Lohagad Fort on June 18.

Ketan and Siya had got engaged in February and were scheduled to travel to Bali on June 6 with two others for a pre-wedding shoot. The trip was cancelled after Ketan realised his passport was missing at Mumbai Airport.

Father raises questions over missing passport

Ketan's father, Vishal Agarwal, has questioned how only his son's passport disappeared.

According to him, all four travellers had checked their passports before leaving for Mumbai. The passports, cash, credit cards, driving licences and other valuables were kept together in a single pouch inside the vehicle.

After reaching the airport, everyone except Ketan had their passport, forcing him to cancel the trip and return home.

Vishal Agarwal has described the circumstances surrounding the missing document as suspicious and believes it was deliberately removed.

Crime scene recreated at Lohagad Fort

On Sunday, Pune Rural Police took Siya Goyal to Lohagad Fort to recreate the alleged murder scene.

Police used a mannequin during the reconstruction to recreate the sequence of events surrounding Ketan's fatal fall from the fort on June 18. Officers said the exercise was aimed at verifying the movements of the accused and establishing how the incident unfolded.

Siya has been accused of pushing Ketan off a cliff with the help of her alleged boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary. The allegations are under investigation and have not yet been tested in court.

Family appeals for witnesses

A day before the reconstruction, Ketan's father joined a candlelight march demanding justice for his son.

Addressing residents, friends and family members gathered in Pune's Gahunje area, Vishal Agarwal appealed to anyone who was present at Lohagad Fort on June 18 to come forward and assist the investigation.

He said several visitors were at the fort on the day of the incident and urged eyewitnesses to share any information that could help police establish what happened.

The investigation is continuing and police are examining witness statements, digital evidence and forensic material as they piece together the events leading up to Ketan Agarwal's death.