Who Is Siya Goyal's Advocate? Two Lawyers, One Defamation Bomb, & Murder Trial On Ketan Agarwal

The high-profile Ketan Agarwal murder case has taken a contentious legal turn, with two advocates staking claim to represent the prime accused, Siya Goyal, even as a ₹10 crore defamation notice has been served on her brother.

Advocate Ashutosh Srivastava, a Pune-based lawyer, has issued a defamation notice to Sahil Goyal, Siya's brother, for making public statements that Srivastava claims are false and professionally damaging. The notice comes amid conflicting assertions over who is legally authorized to represent Siya in court.

Srivastava's Claim of Representation

Srivastava has maintained that Goyal formally appointed him as her counsel. He stated that she had signed all necessary legal documents, including the vakalatnama, which he said have already been filed before the court. He further claimed that she has authorized him to represent her in the High Court as well.

"We have sent a ₹10 crore defamation notice to Sahil Goyal," Srivastava told reporters. "We did this because we heard a statement from him where he is stating completely false facts, lying, and attempting to mislead the public."

He added that Goyal "has signed and authorised all necessary legal documents in every proper manner," and that the documents have been submitted to the court.

However, Srivastava's claims have been publicly contradicted by Sahil Goyal, who has stated that the family has approached Advocate Vipul Dushing to defend Siya.

The dispute was further intensified when Goyal, during a hearing before the Vadagaon Maval court, reportedly stated, "Ashutosh Srivastava is not my lawyer. Vipul Dushing is representing me."

Srivastava has categorically denied any communication with Sahil Goyal. "We have absolutely nothing to do with Sahil Goyal. We haven't spoken to him, had no communication with him on any subject, and exchanged no emails," he said.

Defamation Notice and Legal Arguments
Srivastava has argued that any public statement suggesting he acted without authority or appointment is "per se defamatory and causes direct professional injury."

He has demanded an apology from Sahil Goyal, stating that the latter holds "absolutely no authority" to give false statements regarding legal representation.

Srivastava also pointed out that if an accused wishes to change counsel, there is a formal legal procedure that requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the existing lawyer. He suggested that Sahil's remarks amount to "an outright attack on the legal fraternity."

Advocate Vipul Dushing, who the Goyal family claims is representing Siya, has not yet issued a public statement on the matter. It remains unclear whether he has formally accepted the brief or filed any documents in court on her behalf.

Siya Goyal and her lover, Chetan Chaudhary, are accused of pushing her fiancé, Ketan Agarwal, to his death from a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune on June 18.

On Monday, a local court extended the police custody of both accused by five more days. The police sought the extension to conduct a crime scene recreation with the accused present.

During the hearing, investigators also informed the court that Goyal allegedly tore and burned Agarwal's passport, and that efforts were still underway to recover the burnt remains.

The legal validity of Goyal's representation is likely to be clarified in the next court hearing, should either advocate file a formal application. Meanwhile, Srivastava has indicated that he will proceed with the defamation proceedings against Sahil Goyal unless an unconditional apology is issued.

The case continues to draw significant public and media attention, not only for the nature of the crime but also for the unusual legal tussle unfolding alongside the criminal trial.