Pune Police Struggle to Decode Suspect's Encrypted Messages in Realtor Murder Case

Pune police are grappling with encrypted communications discovered on the phone of Siyal Goyal, a key suspect in the murder of realtor Ketan Agarwal. The coded messages, allegedly exchanged between Goyal and her associate Chetan Chaudhary, remain largely incomprehensible to investigators, who say only the accused can decipher them.

During interrogation, authorities requested extended custody to work with Goyal in decoding the messages, which reportedly contain codewords, nicknames, and emojis designed to mask their true meaning. However, the court denied the extension and instead remanded both Goyal and Chaudhary to judicial custody, limiting investigators' access to the suspects for further questioning.

The encrypted chats are believed to contain crucial evidence linking the pair to the murder plot. Police suspect the communications contain details about the crime's planning and execution, making them potentially vital to the case.

Beyond the coded messages, investigators are pursuing multiple investigative angles. They are scrutinizing financial transactions between the suspects and Agarwal, analyzing banking records for unusual movements of money around the time of the murder. Additionally, police are collecting and cross-examining witness statements to build a comprehensive case.

Authorities maintain that the accumulated evidence—financial data, witness testimony, and circumstantial details—collectively points toward the involvement of both suspects in the murder. The case has drawn significant attention in Pune's real estate circles, given Agarwal's prominence in the sector.

The judicial custody decision means police must now work within court-approved interrogation windows to make progress. Investigators are expected to request further custody extensions if needed, though such requests face judicial scrutiny.

Source: Times of India