Overview
- Aleksei Leonov, 37, was arrested in North Goa after two Russian women, Elena Kasthanova and Elena Vaneeva, both 37, were found dead in Arambol and Morjim with their throats slit.
- Mandrem police registered separate murder cases and booked Leonov under sections 103 (murder) and 126(2) (wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- During questioning, Leonov led officers to Vaneeva’s body and later pointed to a site in Korgao, claiming a third killing, which police are cross-checking against an ‘unnatural death’ reported on January 14.
- Investigators say his statements have been inconsistent and may be influenced by psychotropic substances, so alleged additional confessions are being corroborated with records and forensics.
- Police report the alleged weapon has been recovered, the Russian Embassy has been notified, post-mortem examinations are pending, and a Pernem magistrate has remanded Leonov to 14 days’ police custody.