Fresh Twist in Pune Fort Murder: Lawyer Slaps Rs 10 Crore Defamation Notice After Family Disowns Him
The sensational Pune fort murder case has taken another dramatic turn, with a lawyer who claimed to represent accused Siya Goyal issuing a Rs 10 crore defamation notice to her brother after the family publicly denied appointing him as her legal counsel.
The controversy erupted after advocate Aashutosh Srivastav , who had been introducing himself as Siya Goyal's lawyer and speaking to television channels on her behalf, was disowned by her family during proceedings before the Vadgaon Maval Court . The family instead appointed advocate Vipul Dushing to represent her.
A day later, Srivastav responded by serving a defamation notice to Sahil Goyal , Siya's brother, accusing him of making false and misleading statements that damaged his professional reputation. The notice seeks Rs 10 crore in damages and demands a public apology.
Defending his position, Srivastav maintained that Siya Goyal herself had legally authorised him to represent her. According to him, she had signed all the required legal documents, including a vakalatnama , which had already been submitted before the court. He also claimed that she had authorised him to represent her before the High Court and that he intended to continue handling those proceedings.
The lawyer further alleged that he had never communicated with Sahil Goyal through meetings, phone calls or emails, making the latter's statements entirely baseless. He argued that the allegations not only harmed his reputation but also amounted to an attack on the legal profession.
Srivastav also stressed that Siya, being an adult, has every legal right to appoint a lawyer of her own choice. He pointed out that if she wished to replace her legal counsel, the law provides a proper procedure, including obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the existing advocate. According to him, Sahil had no legal authority to make statements regarding her representation.
The dispute had already created an unusual situation inside the courtroom on Monday. After the prosecution completed its arguments seeking an extension of police custody for Siya Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary , both Srivastav and Dushing addressed the court, each claiming to represent Siya.
The confusion ended only when Judicial Magistrate (First Class) A M Vibhute allowed Siya to speak. Standing before the court, she stated that advocate Vipul Dushing was representing her.
The case itself continues to draw widespread attention across Maharashtra. Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary are accused of murdering 25 year old realtor Ketan Agarwal by allegedly pushing him off a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune district on June 18 .
Investigators allege that Ketan Agarwal and Siya Goyal were scheduled to marry in November , but she reportedly no longer wished to proceed with the marriage. Police claim this became one of the motives behind the alleged murder, though the investigation remains ongoing and the allegations are yet to be tested during trial.
The latest dispute over legal representation has now added another layer of complexity to an already high profile criminal case, with both the murder investigation and the fresh legal battle expected to continue in the coming days.