Rajya Sabha member and founder of the Lovely Professional University (LPU), Ashok Kumar Mittal on Saturday renewed his demand for the establishment of a National Commission for Men, citing the recent murder case of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal. Agarwal’s fiancee Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested in connection with the murder, and the case has reignited the debate on the need for institutional mechanism to address issues affecting men.
On Saturday, Mittal termed the incident deeply disturbing and shared a video of his speech in the Rajya Sabha from December 2025, when he introduced a private member’s Bill seeking the constitution of a National Commission for Men.
Ashok Mittal
Mittal, who represents Punjab in the Rajya Sabha, was earlier associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) when he introduced the Bill. However, in April 2026, he announced that he had merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of a group of seven AAP MPs led by Raghav Chadha.
“Men too can be victims”: Mittal
Reiterating his demand, Mittal said that Ketan Agarwal’s murder underlines the need to recognise that men can also fall prey to crime and injustice. Taking to ‘X,’ he wrote, “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.”
His renewed appeal has once again cast the spotlight on the proposed National Commission for Men, which seeks to provide a dedicated forum for addressing grievances, promoting welfare and ensuring legal safeguards for men facing abuse or discrimination.
Private member’s bills rarely turn into legislation
Although private member’s Bills often raise important policy issues, they rarely progress through Parliament. Since India’s Independence, only 14 private member’s Bills have been translated into law. Notably, no such Bill has passed both Houses of Parliament since 1970, underscoring the limited legislative success of proposals introduced by members who are not part of the parliament.
Mittal’s Bill, like most private member’s legislation, remains at the proposal stage and has not advanced to a vote in Parliament.
Recent developments in Ketan Agarwal murder case
On July 3, 2026, a Pune court remanded both the key accused to 14 days of judicial custody until July 16.
The court junked the Lonavala Rural Police’s request for an extension of police custody. It also dismissed the investigating agency’s application seeking permission to conduct a polygraph examination after both accused declined to undergo a lie-detector test.
Ketan, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary (Left to Right)
As the probe advances, the case has also triggered a nationwide debate on gender-neutral justice and the need for institutional support mechanisms, with Mittal’s renewed demand for a National Commission for Men adding fresh momentum to the discussion.