Overview
- Goa Police arrested Aleksei Leonov, 37, after two Russian women—Elena Kasthanova and Elena Vaneeva, both 37—were found dead in separate rented rooms in Arambol and Morjim.
- Investigators report a similar modus operandi in both deaths, with the victims’ throats slit using a sharp weapon and Kasthanova found with her hands tied.
- During interrogation, Leonov guided officers to Vaneeva’s body, which was recovered a day after Kasthanova was discovered, and he has been booked under BNS Sections 103 and 126(2).
- Police say the probe remains preliminary as they collect forensic evidence, including the alleged weapon, and conduct post-mortems to establish sequence and motive.
- Authorities state Leonov has claimed involvement in additional killings and has been remanded to 14-day police custody, while a purported third victim in Korgao is being verified.