26/11 Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam Appointed Special Public Prosecutor In Ketan Agarwal Murder

The decision came after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Ketan Agarwal's parents in Pune on Friday. Responding to their demand for a speedy trial and the appointment of Nikam, the Chief Minister immediately directed the Law and Judiciary Department to initiate the process. Nikam later confirmed that he had accepted the responsibility after receiving a call from Fadnavis.

"The entire nation has been shaken by this murder," Nikam said as per news reports. "The police investigation is currently underway; we will only be able to disclose the status of the investigation once the charge sheet has been filed. This is a significant responsibility, as I have handled and continue to handle many such cases in the state of Maharashtra," he said. He added that the rule of law must prevail and said he readily agreed to take up the prosecution after being approached by the Chief Minister and the victim's family.

Who is Nikam?

Nikam earned national prominence as the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, successfully leading the prosecution against Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was convicted and later executed. Over the past three decades, he has also appeared in several other high-profile prosecutions, including the 1993 Bombay serial blasts, the Gulshan Kumar murder case, and multiple organised crime and terror-related matters.

His career is now set to be chronicled in an upcoming biographical film titled "Prahaar", which is based on his life and legal career.

What's the Ketan Agarwal Case?

The Ketan Agarwal case concerns the death of the 22-year-old Pune businessman, who died on June 18 after falling into a deep gorge at Lohagad Fort near Lonavala. Initially reported as an accidental fall during a trek, the case took a dramatic turn after investigators concluded that the death was allegedly the result of a pre-planned conspiracy.

Police have arrested Agarwal's fiancée Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, accusing them of conspiring to push him off a nearly 400-foot cliff at the fort's "Ghost Point." Both are currently in police custody till June 29.

The investigation has since uncovered what police describe as multiple earlier attempts to execute the alleged plan. According to investigators, Siya allegedly persuaded Ketan to visit Lohagad Fort on several occasions. During one such visit on June 14, she allegedly attempted to push him off the cliff, but he survived after grabbing onto nearby bushes. Police claim she later told him she had pushed him only because she had spotted a snake nearby.

Investigators further claim that Siya has told police she did not want to marry Ketan and feared the social consequences of calling off the engagement. According to police, she allegedly stated that she disliked his appearance, including his baldness, his use of a wig and his stammer, and believed ending the engagement would embarrass both families.

However, Ketan's father has publicly rejected the suggestion that his son's appearance played any meaningful role in the crime, stating that if Siya did not wish to marry him, she could simply have refused instead of allegedly planning his murder.

Meanwhile, Siya's mother has stated that her daughter was initially unwilling to visit Lohagad Fort and claimed that Ketan had  insisted on the trekking trip. She also maintained that if her daughter is found guilty, she should receive the strictest punishment available under law.

"We are committed to ensuring that the guilty in this case receive the harshest punishment. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured them at this time that no stone will be left unturned in delivering justice to the family.Their demand to establish a fast-track court in this case and appoint Ujjwal Nikam as a special public prosecutor was also immediately accepted by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and he issued instructions to that effect to the Secretary of the Law and Judiciary Department. Senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam has also given his consent to work as a special public prosecutor in this case," CMO Maharashtra's tweet read.