The father of Ketan Agarwal, who was allegedly murdered near Pune earlier this year, has appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to ensure a fast-tracked investigation and an expedited trial, saying his family has been left "shattered" by the loss of both his son and father within weeks.
In an email addressed to the Secretary to the President on Wednesday, Vishal Agarwal urged that the case be transferred to a fast-track court and requested the strictest punishment permissible under law for the accused. He said prolonged delays in the justice system only compound the suffering of victims' families.
Describing his anguish, Agarwal wrote that he was reaching out not as a businessman or a person of influence, but simply as a grieving father. "I am writing this email with a heart full of pain and hope. I am not writing as a businessman or someone with influence. Main sirf ek baap hoon, jo apne bete ke liye insaaf maang raha hai (I am writing as a father seeking justice for his son)."
He said Ketan's death had transformed the family's life irrevocably, leaving them with unanswered questions every day. "My son Ketan was brutally murdered. Since that day, our lives have completely changed. Every morning we wake up with the same pain, and every night we sleep with the same question: When will Ketan get justice?"
Agarwal further revealed that the tragedy was compounded by the death of his own father less than three weeks later. According to him, the elderly man was unable to cope with the emotional trauma following his grandson's death. "The pain did not end there. Within just 20 days of losing Ketan, I also lost my own father. He loved his grandson more than anything. He could not bear the shock and grief of Ketan's death. His blood pressure dropped, and eventually his heart stopped working. In just 20 days, I lost both my son and my father. Our family has been shattered."
Calling for swift judicial action, Agarwal stressed that his family was not seeking preferential treatment but only timely justice. "Sir, we are not asking for any special treatment. Hum bas is case ko fast-track court mein chalake jaldi se jaldi justice mile. The people who did this should receive the strictest punishment under the law. Delay in justice only increases the pain of families like ours."
He added that while no punishment could undo the family's loss, a prompt verdict would reinforce public confidence in the justice system and serve as a deterrent against similar crimes. "Ketan cannot come back. But the guilty should not feel that they can escape or delay the consequences of such a cruel crime. A strong punishment will not only give us some peace, but it will also send a message that innocent lives matter and that such crimes will never be tolerated."
Concluding his appeal, Agarwal requested the President to personally look into the matter and ensure that the case does not fade into the backlog of pending criminal proceedings. "With folded hands, I request you to please look into this matter personally and help ensure that justice is delivered as soon as possible." He added, "Please don't let my son's case become just another file. Behind this case is a family that has lost everything."
Ketan Agarwal was allegedly murdered at Lohagad Fort near Pune on 18 June. Investigators have alleged that his fiancée, Siya, and her friend, Chetan Babulal Chaudhary, who is suspected to have been her lover, were involved in the killing. The case remains under investigation.
