Investigators probing the death of Ketan Agarwal have uncovered potentially significant digital evidence, including alleged Snapchat messages and what police characterise as coded mobile phone exchanges between the two suspects. The materials have surfaced during active investigation, though authorities acknowledge that verification of their authenticity and evidentiary weight remains incomplete. The emergence of these communications marks a critical phase in the case, as law enforcement attempts to construct a comprehensive timeline of events surrounding the alleged crime.
At the heart of the digital evidence is an alleged message attributed to Siya Goyal, one of the two accused, in which she requested a friend's Aadhaar card identification details with the stated purpose of booking flight tickets. The phrasing of this exchange has drawn investigative attention: the message reportedly read, "Send me your Aadhaar card to book tickets for a wedding that is never going to happen." The innocuous surface meaning of wedding arrangements masks what police believe may be a deliberate attempt to establish a false narrative of normalcy and continuing life plans.
Detectives are examining whether the purported ticket booking represented a calculated effort to create the misleading impression that pre-wedding preparations and travel planning were continuing as normal, thereby obscuring the alleged crime from outsiders' view. Such a strategy, if substantiated, would suggest a level of premeditation and coordination in concealing culpability. The police investigation is also exploring whether this communication formed part of a broader framework designed to divert suspicion away from the accused and onto innocent parties or accidental circumstances.
Forensic analysis of deleted data recovered from mobile devices has revealed additional concerning evidence. Investigators allege that Siya Goyal and her co-accused Chetan Chaudhary exchanged communications employing coded language in the period following Ketan Agarwal's death. Authorities believe this encrypted dialogue was deliberately structured to mask the substance of their discussions from potential interception or discovery. The decryption and interpretation of these messages have become priorities for the investigating team.
According to the police narrative, Siya Goyal was engaged to the deceased Ketan Agarwal at the time of his death. Investigators allege that both Siya and Chetan Chaudhary conspired to murder him, subsequently attempting to conceal their involvement by destroying physical evidence and providing misleading statements to authorities. The allegations paint a picture of a conspiracy that extended beyond the alleged act itself to encompass coordinated cover-up activity designed to obstruct the investigation.
During a recent court appearance, investigating officer Manoj Pawar detailed procedural steps undertaken to preserve and document evidence. He informed the judge that authorities had conducted an official panchnama—a formal recorded procedure—at a location where Siya Goyal was suspected of tearing apart Ketan Agarwal's passport. Police also seized clothing belonging to the accused as part of their evidentiary collection. These actions suggest authorities are building a multi-layered case incorporating physical, documentary, and digital components.
The detective further disclosed that examination of a second mobile telephone belonging to Siya Goyal had uncovered what police characterise as coded conversational exchanges. The presence of a second device itself signals potential consciousness of guilt and deliberate compartmentalisation of communications, in law enforcement's assessment. This discovery has elevated the investigative focus on digital forensics as a pathway to understanding the full scope of the alleged conspiracy.
The investigating agency had petitioned the court for an extension of custodial interrogation beyond the initial period, requesting three additional days to question both accused together, decode the alleged communications, establish motive, and clarify each suspect's specific role in the alleged crime. However, a local court declined this request, instead placing both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary in 14 days of judicial custody. This judicial determination, while limiting direct police access to the suspects, does not halt investigative work on physical and digital evidence.
The question of administering narco analysis—a controversial investigative technique employing psychoactive substances—also featured in court proceedings. During the hearing, the judge noted that such testing cannot proceed without explicit consent from the person undergoing the procedure. Both accused declined participation, effectively closing off this investigative avenue. Notably, the prosecution itself indicated that it did not consider narco analysis necessary at the current investigation stage, suggesting confidence in alternative investigative methodologies.
For Malaysian and Southeast Asian observers, this case illuminates the evolving investigative landscape in which digital communications increasingly form the evidentiary backbone of serious criminal inquiries. The reliance on Snapchat messaging and deleted mobile data recovery demonstrates how modern criminology operates across multiple technological layers. The coded message exchanges reveal sophisticated attempts by accused parties to frustrate investigation through deliberate obfuscation, a pattern increasingly common in cross-border and conspiratorial offences throughout the region.
The investigation continues as authorities process the accumulating physical, documentary, and digital materials. The authenticity and admissibility of the alleged Snapchat conversation remain subject to ongoing verification, and Indian courts will ultimately determine what evidentiary weight such materials merit. The case underscores broader patterns in contemporary criminal investigation: the centrality of digital forensics, the prevalence of coded communications among suspects, and the persistent challenge law enforcement faces in extracting meaning from intentionally obscured digital exchanges.
