3 min readPanajiJan 18, 2026 10:19 AM IST
First published on: Jan 18, 2026 at 05:30 AM IST
The murder of two Russian women in Goa has led police in the coastal state on a hunt to ascertain if the accused killed others too.
In his disclosure to the police, Alexei Leonov is learnt to have told the police that he murdered three women in the past week — two Russian nationals and an Indian national — in Goa.
Two victims have already been identified — Elena Kasthanova (37) and Elena Vaneeva (37). Now, police are also probing if Leonov is linked to the death of a 40-year-old woman from Assam, which was first reported as an “unnatural death” on January 14. According to sources, he claims to have killed her with a wooden stick and to have “drugged her”.
Kasthanova worked as a go-go dancer and usher at weddings in Goa, where she arrived on December 24. Police said Leonov, a fire display performer, came to India in 2023 and got acquainted with Kasthanova in Delhi earlier this year.
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 states.
Vaneeva was a bubble performer and an artist, who came to Goa last week and got acquainted with Leonov. She moved into a rented accommodation on the first floor of a house in Morjim recently. On Wednesday night, sometime after 11 pm, Leonov is suspected to have killed Vaneeva by “slitting her neck with a sharp knife”. An investigator said she was found dead in the bathroom, with multiple injuries.
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. According to an investigator, Leonov claims he suspected Kasthanova was in a relationship with another man, while Vaneeva was killed over a monetary dispute.
Investigators familiar with the questioning emphasised the claims need to be verified, as Leonov appears prone to “exaggerating”.
“There are inconsistencies in his statements. He claimed during questioning once that he had killed more women, but couldn’t substantiate it,” an investigator said.
The police also released a statement, wherein only the murders of the two Russian women were mentioned. “During thorough and sustained interrogation, the accused admitted to his involvement in both murder cases. Further investigation revealed that accused was a close friend of both victims and the motive behind the crimes was a monetary dispute amongst them. The weapon used in the commission of the offences has been promptly recovered, providing crucial evidentiary support to the cases. As both victims are foreign nationals, the concerned Embassy has been informed in accordance with established procedures. Post mortem examinations are awaited, subject to necessary Embassy approvals.”
The accused was produced before a JMFC Court and remanded to 14-day police custody, police said.
Now, police are also probing if Leonov is linked to the death of a 40-year-old woman from Assam, which was first reported as an “unnatural death” on January 14. (File Photo) 
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