Goa Police have arrested Alexei Leonov (37) in connection with the alleged murder of two Russian women in the coastal areas of Pernem, in a case that has sent shockwaves through the tourist belt.
The incident came to light after the body of Leonov’s live-in partner, Elena Kasthanova (37), was found in their rented accommodation at Arambol. Police said the body bore clear signs of a violent struggle, with visible injuries and her hands tied behind her back, indicating a brutal inhumane act.
During the course of investigation, police linked Leonov to the death of another Russian woman, Elina Vaneeva, a close friend of the couple who had been staying in Goa for about a month. Investigators believe Elina was killed around January 14–15, days before Kasthanova’s body was discovered.
Police suspect that both murders are connected, citing similarities in the manner in which the crimes were committed. Leonov allegedly fled after the incident but was later traced and arrested.
Senior police officers said investigations are ongoing to establish the exact motive behind the alleged double homicide and to reconstruct the sequence of events. The case has raised serious concerns over the safety of foreign tourists in Goa, especially in the popular coastal villages of Pernem taluka.
Further details are awaited as the probe continues.
