Pune: The murder of 26-year-old real estate businessman Ketan Agarwal in Pune has sparked political debate after Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar described the case as a reminder that men also require safety, legal protection and institutional support. Referring to the case, the MP reiterated his demand for gender-neutral justice and shared a video of the private member's Bill he introduced in Parliament in December 2025, arguing that male victims also deserve legal safeguards and a platform to have their grievances heard.
The intervention comes as the investigation into the murder continues. Pune police have arrested Agarwal's fiancée, Siya Goyal, 20, and her friend, Chetan Chaudhary, 22, in connection with the case.
A Pune court has remanded both accused to judicial custody until July 16, rejecting the Lonavala Rural Police's plea for an extension of their police custody. The court also declined the investigating agency's request to conduct polygraph tests after both accused refused to undergo the examination.
The MP maintained that justice should be applied equally regardless of gender, using the case to underline the need for legal protection for all victims. However, the prospects of his proposal becoming law remain slim. Since Independence, only 14 private members' bills have been enacted in India, and none have been passed by both Houses of Parliament since 1970.
The Ketan Agarwal murder case continues to be investigated as the accused remain in judicial custody and police pursue further evidence.