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He is learnt to have told police during questioning that he killed 2 more Russian women, and investigators are also looking into his involvement in the death of a woman from Assam
While investigators familiar with the questioning of the accused, Alexei Leonov, said his claims need to be verified as they appear “sketchy and inconsistent”, police are now looking into whether he is connected to as many as five deaths in the coastal state.
A Russian national arrested for allegedly murdering two Russian women in Goa has told police that he killed two more women, who were also from his country, The Indian Express has learnt.
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While investigators familiar with the questioning of the accused, Alexei Leonov, said his claims need to be verified as they appear “sketchy and inconsistent”, police are now looking into whether he is connected to as many as five deaths in the coastal state.
Police also said that based on initial questioning, Leonov seems to have “psychopathic” tendencies. “He claimed that he used to befriend foreign nationals, usually fellow Russians. The modus operandi in the killings, as per his disclosures, is either slitting the throat or suffocating the victims,” said an investigator.
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Two victims have already been identified: Elena Kasthanova (37) and Elena Vaneeva (37). In the case of a 40-year-old woman from Assam, which was first reported as an “unnatural death” on January 14, police said that though circumstantial evidence and disclosures suggest his involvement, the cause of death will only be established after a postmortem examination. According to sources, Leonov claimed during questioning that he had drugged her and killed her with a wooden stick.
In his latest disclosures, Leonov is learnt to have told police that he killed a Russian woman last month. Based on this, police traced the body of a foreign national, who was reported as an “unnatural death” in December 2025. Investigators, however, said a further probe and an autopsy would be required to establish whether it is a case of murder and if Leonov is linked to it.
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A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said, “We cannot take all his statements at face value. Just because he was known to someone, and that person ended up dead, does not necessarily establish that he killed her.”
Leonov is also learnt to have told police that he killed another Russian national in the recent past, but a body that matches this disclosure has yet to be found, sources said.
In an official statement on Saturday, police said the accused admitted to his involvement in the murders of two Russian women, Elena Kasthanova and Elena Vaneeva. The statement added that he was a close friend of both victims and the motive behind the crimes was a “monetary dispute amongst them”.
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Leonov is learnt to have told police that he was in a relationship with both women and was “living-in” with them, though all his claims are being taken with a pinch of salt.
On motives behind the alleged killings, an investigator said, “While a monetary dispute may have been the trigger for the murder cases that have been confirmed, he seems to have developed obsessive relations with the two, leading him to the crimes, as per his disclosures.”
Kasthanova worked as a go-go dancer and usher at weddings and arrived in Goa on December 24. She was found murdered at 9.15 pm on Thursday at her rented accommodation in Arambol. According to the FIR, Leonov allegedly assaulted Kasthanova and tied her hands behind her back with a rope. He then allegedly slit her neck with a sharp-edged weapon, the FIR said.
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Vaneeva was a bubble performer and artist who came to Goa last week and got acquainted with Leonov. On Wednesday night, sometime after 11 pm, Leonov allegedly killed Vaneeva by “slitting her neck with a sharp knife”.
The accused was remanded to 14-day police custody on Saturday, and police are continuing to interrogate him to ascertain if he has killed more people.
Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More
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