A legal conflict has surfaced in the Lohagad Fort murder case, involving competing claims of representation for accused Siya Goyal. Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava has issued a ₹10 crore legal notice to the brother of the accused following a public dispute over his professional appointment. The matter is currently under legal review as authorities continue the investigation.
What Happened
A legal standoff has emerged in the Lohagad Fort murder case, centering on which legal counsel officially represents the accused, 20-year-old Siya Goyal. The confusion follows conflicting claims from two legal professionals, Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava and Advocate Vipul Dushing, both of whom assert they have been engaged to represent the accused in court proceedings.
The situation escalated after Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava issued a legal notice for ₹10 crore to Sahil Goyal, the brother of the accused. The notice alleges that public statements made by Sahil Goyal regarding the engagement of legal counsel were defamatory and harmful to Srivastava's professional reputation.
Competing Legal Claims
The dispute involves two different versions of events regarding the appointment of counsel. Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava claims that he and his associates were formally appointed by Siya Goyal on June 25 through the signing of vakalatnamas. He asserts that these documents were accepted by various judicial authorities, including the Bombay High Court.
Conversely, Advocate Vipul Dushing maintains that he was hired by the family of the accused. Dushing states that during a remand hearing held on June 29, Siya Goyal informed the magistrate that she had only engaged him as her counsel. This contradiction in representation claims has created uncertainty regarding the legal status of the defense team.
The Defamation Notice
The legal notice for ₹10 crore was issued in response to a statement made by Sahil Goyal on June 29, in which he publicly denied that the family had engaged Advocate Srivastava. Srivastava described these remarks as an attack on his standing within the legal fraternity. He has demanded both an apology and a formal clarification from Sahil Goyal regarding the matter, emphasizing that as a legal adult, Siya Goyal holds the right to appoint her own legal representation independently.
Current Status of the Case
The case pertains to the death of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal, who allegedly fell from Lohagad Fort on June 18. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Lonavala Rural Police. The matter is currently before the magistrate court in Wadgaon Mawal, Pune. As the investigation progresses, the question of authorized legal representation remains a focal point for the court to resolve before further proceedings can effectively take place.