Ketan Agarwal Murder Case: Rajya Sabha MP Revives National Commission for Men Bill

New Delhi: The demand for the establishment of a statutory National Commission for Men (NCM) has regained significant momentum in India’s legal and political discourse. This resurgence follows the deeply disturbing death of 26-year-old Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal, a case that has sparked a national debate regarding the institutional mechanisms available to male victims of crime. Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, the founder of Lovely Professional University, has utilised the case to highlight what he describes as a critical gap in the country’s current legal framework.

The investigation into Ketan Agarwal’s death, which occurred on 18 June at Lohagad Fort, has shifted from an initial accidental ruling to a murder inquiry. Police investigators allege that Agarwal was pushed to his death from a cliff by his fiancée, 20-year-old Siya Goyal, and her associate, 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary. According to police statements, Goyal reportedly confessed to the conspiracy, citing a fear of social stigma should she have called off the wedding. On 3 July, a Pune court remanded both accused to 14 days of judicial custody until 16 July, while rejecting a police request for a polygraph test after the accused refused to undergo the examination.

Citing the case as evidence that "men, too, can be victims," MP Ashok Kumar Mittal shared a video of his speech in the Rajya Sabha from December 2025, when he introduced the National Commission for Men Bill. Arguing that male victims deserve institutional support, legal protection, and a platform to be heard, Mittal said that justice must be equal for all individuals, irrespective of gender. Referring to the Agarwal family, he asserted that they deserve a thorough, impartial investigation to ensure a fair legal outcome.

Posting the video of his introduction of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Mittal wrote:

Pune Ketan Agarwal case is deeply disturbing. Ketan and his family deserve a fair, thorough, and impartial investigation, and above all, justice. I introduced the National Commission for Men Bill in Parliament. Every victim deserves justice, support, and equal protection under the law. The Ketan case is a reminder that men, too, can be victims. They deserve institutional support, legal protection, and a platform where their voices are heard. Justice must be equal for everyone, irrespective of gender. 

The National Commission for Men Bill, 2025, which currently holds an "introduced" status in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to create a statutory body broadly modelled after the National Commission for Women (NCW). The proposed legislation outlines a framework intended to protect the rights and welfare of men while inquiring into specific grievances. If passed, the Commission would be empowered to review existing laws and policies affecting men and promote outreach programs focused on their physical, mental, and social well-being.

One of the core functions of the proposed body would be to investigate matters relating to the violation or deprivation of constitutional rights guaranteed to men. The Bill also authorises the Commission to sponsor research and data collection on critical issues such as male suicide rates, health disparities, unemployment, and domestic abuse. Furthermore, it proposes the provision of direct legal aid, counselling, and rehabilitation services for men in distress.

To ensure expert leadership, the Bill stipulates that the Commission be headed by a chairperson and vice-chairperson with at least 15 years of eminence in fields such as law, public administration, or sociology. The proposed membership includes mandatory representation for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and at least one member under the age of 40. During inquiries, the body would be granted the powers of a civil court to facilitate thorough investigations.

Addressing potential concerns regarding existing legal protections, the Bill explicitly states that none of its provisions shall limit or affect the rights currently accorded to women under Indian law. It further restricts the Commission from intervening in any complaint where a woman is the complainant, unless a competent court has formally declared that complaint to be false, malicious, or an abuse of the legal process. This safeguard is intended to ensure that the new body complements rather than undermines the existing statutory protections for women.

Despite the renewed public discussion, legal experts note that the Bill faces significant hurdles to becoming law, as it is a Private Member’s Bill. Since Independence, only 14 such bills have been enacted, and none have successfully passed both Houses of Parliament since 1970. While the Ketan Agarwal case has once again reignited the demand for an NCM back into the national spotlight, the progression of the legislation remains uncertain without formal government backing. For now, the investigation into Agarwal's death continues under judicial scrutiny as the legislative debate remains pending in Parliament.