Ketan Agarwal Murder Case: Adv Srivastava Sends Rs 10 Crore Defamation Notice to Sahil Goyal Over Siya Representation Row

Pune, 30th June 2026: The high-profile Ketan Agarwal murder case has escalated into a fierce legal battle, with prominent Supreme Court Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava serving a ₹10 crore defamation notice to Sahil Goyal, the brother of prime accused Siya Goyal.

This development comes less than 24 hours after Sahil Goyal publicly rejected Srivastava’s representation, alleging that the advocate had obtained Siya’s signatures through deceitful means.
The ₹10 Crore Defamation Legal Notice
In the legal notice dated June 29, 2026, and served electronically via WhatsApp on June 30, 2026, Advocate Srivastava of A A Associates has demanded ₹10,00,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Crores) in damages and compensation from Sahil Goyal.

The notice accuses Sahil of making “false, frivolous, derogatory, disparaging, distorted, slanderous, malicious, malevolent, and defamatory media statements” against him. The notice demands:
Immediate withdrawal of all defamatory media statements.
An unconditional public apology.
A cease-and-desist undertaking to stop causing professional disrepute to the advocate.
Advocate Srivastava has vehemently countered Sahil’s claims, asserting that prime accused Siya Goyal had made a bonafide appointment of his services. He stated that a Vakalatnama was duly signed by Siya, accepted by the Court in Vadgaon Maval, Pune, and is officially placed on the judicial record.
The Confrontation: Family Rejects Representation
The legal feud erupted on Monday, June 29, when Sahil Goyal publicly distanced the family from Advocate Srivastava. Speaking to reporters and media outlets, Sahil categorically stated, “We have never hired him, and he is not someone engaged by our family.” He further alleged that Srivastava might have obtained Siya’s signatures on legal documents under deceitful circumstances.

Adding to the procedural chaos, another lawyer, Advocate Vipul Dushing, has also come forward claiming to represent Siya Goyal and her family, setting up a potential courtroom clash over legal representation in the upcoming hearings.

Both lawyers defended accused Siya during the remand hearing on Monday in Vadgaon Maval court.
Srivastava’s Defense Stance
Prior to the family’s public rejection, Advocate Srivastava had actively defended Siya Goyal in the media. Last week, he argued that the prosecution’s case is weak, pointing out that there are no eyewitnesses, independent witnesses, or direct evidence linking Siya to Ketan Agarwal’s tragic death.

Srivastava also raised critical legal objections, emphasizing that any confession allegedly made by an accused while in police custody is legally inadmissible under the Indian Evidence Act (now superseded by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023). He questioned the police’s sudden shift in the investigation from an accidental fall to a conspiracy of murder, stating that the defence would aggressively oppose any further police remand in favor of judicial custody.
Background of the Case
The case centers around the tragic death of 26-year-old Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, who died after falling from a steep, treacherous section of the historic Lohagad Fort in Lonavala.

Initially investigated by the police as an accidental death or suicide, the probe was subsequently upgraded to a murder investigation after authorities suspected a deep-rooted conspiracy. Pune Rural Police have pointed toward confessionals and circumstantial findings to suspect the involvement of Siya Goyal and other associates.

The Vadgaon Maval court on Monday extended police custody of accused Siya and her accomplice Chetan Chaudhary till July 3.