“Who Is Siya Goyal’s Real Lawyer?”: Court statement sparks fresh legal showdown

The Ketan Agarwal murder case has taken a new turn after a dispute over Siya Goyal’s legal representation led to a ₹10 crore defamation notice, adding another layer to the ongoing investigation.

Pune: The investigation into the Ketan Agarwal murder case has entered a fresh phase after a dispute over the legal representation of prime accused Siya Goyal triggered a high-profile defamation row.

Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava has issued a ₹10 crore defamation notice to Siya’s brother, Sahil Goyal, claiming that statements questioning his appointment as her lawyer have damaged his professional reputation.

The development comes as police continue investigating the murder of Ketan Agarwal, who allegedly died after being pushed from a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune on June 18. Siya Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested in connection with the case.

Conflicting Claims Over Legal Representation

The controversy began after Srivastava stated that Siya Goyal had officially appointed him as her legal counsel by signing a vakalatnama authorising him to appear on her behalf.

However, Sahil Goyal publicly disputed the claim, saying the family had engaged advocate Vipul Dushing to represent Siya.

The disagreement intensified after Siya reportedly told the Vadgaon Maval court that Vipul Dushing was representing her and that Srivastava was not her lawyer.

₹10 Crore Defamation Notice Issued

Following the public statements, Srivastava served a 10-page legal notice seeking ₹10 crore in damages from Sahil Goyal.

The notice demands the withdrawal of allegedly defamatory statements, a public apology and removal of related content from social media platforms and news portals.

Srivastava maintained that Siya had voluntarily signed the vakalatnama and argued that questioning his authority had harmed his professional standing and caused reputational damage.

He has also sought written assurances that similar statements will not be made in the future.

Investigation Continues in Murder Case

Meanwhile, the Vadgaon Maval court has extended the police custody of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary by five days to assist with the ongoing investigation.

According to investigators, a reconstruction of the crime scene is planned with both accused present. Police are also trying to recover Ketan Agarwal’s passport, which they allege Siya destroyed after the incident.

Investigators are examining Chetan Chaudhary’s movements after the alleged crime and analysing phone records to establish communication between the accused.

As the murder investigation progresses, the legal dispute over Siya Goyal’s representation has added another significant dimension to one of Pune’s most closely watched criminal cases.