India, June 25 -- Members of local trekking and rescue teams who took part in the search for Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort have said they suspected foul play from the outset, before the case was converted into a murder investigation.

Volunteers from Shivdurg Rescue Team, Vanyajiv Rakshak and other groups were among the first responders after Ketan was reported missing during a trek on June 18. His death was initially treated as an accidental fall into a gorge.

However, Nilesh Garade of Vanyajiv Rakshak said the circumstances immediately appeared unusual. He said the claim that Ketan had slipped did not align with conditions at the site.

"There was no rain on Lohagad Fort on the day of the incident, and in all these years, we have never...