A fresh legal dispute has emerged in the high-profile Ketan Agarwal death case, with advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava issuing a ₹10 crore defamation notice to Sahil Goyal, the brother of accused Siya Goyal, over conflicting claims regarding her legal representation.
The latest development comes as Pune Police continue investigating the death of Ketan Agarwal, in which Siya Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested.
Dispute Over Siya Goyal’s Lawyer
The controversy began after advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava publicly stated that he was representing Siya Goyal and questioned the legal value of her alleged confession while in police custody.
Soon afterward, advocate Vipul Dushing announced that he and his legal team had been engaged to represent Siya Goyal, creating uncertainty over who was officially acting as her counsel.
Sahil Goyal Rejects Representation Claim
Speaking to the media, Siya Goyal’s brother Sahil Goyal denied that the family had appointed Aashuutosh Srivastava as her lawyer.
He stated that neither he nor other family members had engaged Srivastava to represent Siya in the case.
Advocate Issues ₹10 Crore Defamation Notice
Responding to Sahil Goyal’s remarks, advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava said he had served a ₹10 crore defamation notice, alleging that false and misleading statements had been made about his role.
According to Srivastava, Siya Goyal personally authorised him to represent her and signed the required legal documents, including a Vakalatnama, which he said had already been filed before the court.
He also stated that his legal team has been authorised to represent Siya Goyal before the High Court.
Srivastava further argued that an accused person has the legal right to appoint legal counsel independently and that any change of advocate must follow the due legal process.
Investigation into Ketan Agarwal’s Death Continues
The legal dispute comes as Pune Rural Police continue investigating the death of Ketan Agarwal, who died after falling from Lohagad Fort on June 18.
Police allege that Siya Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary were involved in a conspiracy that resulted in Agarwal’s death. According to investigators, the accused recently participated in a scene recreation at Lohagad Fort as part of the ongoing probe.
Investigators have also stated that they are verifying claims that the accused had allegedly visited the location earlier to identify a suitable spot before the incident.
Case Remains Under Investigation
The allegations made by investigators, as well as statements from the parties involved, remain subject to judicial scrutiny.
No court has delivered a verdict on the charges, and the investigation into Ketan Agarwal’s death is continuing.
