Pune Police Seek to Decode Suspect's Encrypted Messages in Realtor Murder Case
Investigators recovered coded chats from accused Siyal Goyal's phone in connection with realtor Ketan Agarwal's murder. Despite requesting extended custody to decrypt the messages, a court has remanded both Goyal and her alleged accomplice to judicial custody.
Pune police are racing to unlock the meaning behind a series of cryptic messages found on the phone of Siyal Goyal, the primary suspect in the murder of realtor Ketan Agarwal. The investigators believe these encoded communications—which use codewords, nicknames, and emojis—could contain crucial evidence linking Goyal and her alleged co-conspirator, Chetan Chaudhary, to the crime.
The encrypted chats were discovered during the police's examination of Goyal's mobile device following her arrest. According to investigators, the messages are written in a format that only Goyal appears to understand, making them impossible to decipher without her direct assistance or explanation. The police filed a request for extended custody of both Goyal and Chaudhary to allow them additional time to interrogate the suspects and attempt to decode the communications. However, the court rejected this plea and instead ordered both individuals to be remanded to judicial custody, limiting the police's direct access to them.
Despite this setback, the investigation continues on multiple fronts. Pune police are systematically examining financial transactions between the accused and the victim, scrutinizing bank records and payment histories that might establish motive or opportunity. Simultaneously, investigators are interviewing witnesses who may have seen or heard relevant information about the events leading up to Agarwal's death. The police have publicly stated that the accumulated evidence—including the coded messages, financial data, and witness accounts—collectively points toward the guilt of both Goyal and Chaudhary.
The case has drawn significant attention given the involvement of a woman and a realtor, both prominent figures in Pune's business community. The investigation highlights the growing use of coded communication methods by individuals attempting to conceal criminal activity from law enforcement.
With both suspects now in judicial custody rather than police custody, investigators face challenges in extracting further information directly. They will likely rely on forensic analysis of the phone data, financial investigations, and witness testimonies to build their case. The court's decision suggests the judge found sufficient grounds to believe a cognisable offence has been committed, but determined that extended police custody was not necessary at this stage.
