The shocking case of a Russian national accused of multiple murders in Goa has gripped national attention, particularly in Assam, where a local woman from Amguri is linked to the suspect’s confessions.
Russian Man Aleksei Leonov Arrested in Goa Double Murder; Probe Links to Assamese Woman Mridusmita Saikia Death
In a chilling development that has shocked Goa’s expatriate community and sent ripples across Assam, 37-year-old Russian national Aleksei Leonov has been arrested for the brutal murders of two Russian women in north Goa. During intense police interrogation, Leonov confessed to additional killings, including the death of Mridusmita Saikia, a 40-year-old woman from Amguri in Assam’s Sivasagar district, who had been living and working in Goa for nearly four years.
The case first came to light in mid-January 2026 when the body of Elena Kasthanova (37), a go-go dancer and fire performer believed to be in a live-in relationship with Leonov, was discovered in their rented accommodation in Arambol on January 15 (or around January 15-16, as per varying reports). Her throat had been slit, and her hands were tied behind her back with a rope. Neighbors reported hearing screams before Leonov allegedly fled by jumping from the first floor. Goa police swiftly launched a manhunt and arrested him early the next morning.
During questioning, Leonov revealed he had also killed Elena Vaneeva (37), a bubble artist and mutual friend of the couple, whose body was found in Morjim village. Reports indicate Vaneeva arrived in Goa on January 10, while Kasthanova had been there since late December 2025. Both victims died from throat-slitting injuries, and police described the acts as “triggered murders” driven by sudden anger rather than premeditation. Motives appear tied to petty disputes—borrowed money in one case and a rubber “fire crown” (a prop worth around Rs 100 used in performances) in another. Leonov, a fire display performer himself, had been living in India on a long-term visa since 2023, frequently traveling between cities and sustaining himself through small jobs while often under the influence of drugs.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when Leonov claimed responsibility for more deaths, reportedly confessing to killing around 10-12 women in total across locations in India. He specifically led police to Korgao village, alleging he had drugged and smothered a 40-year-old Assamese woman there. This matched the circumstances of Mridusmita Saikia’s death—she was found dead in her rented home in Goa on January 12, 2026. Her landlord informed her family on the day of Magh Bihu, prompting Goa police to recover the body and conduct a postmortem.
Initially ruled as a drug overdose with no visible injury marks confirming homicide, the case was reopened following Leonov’s claims. He reportedly knew Saikia for a long time; the two had met frequently in Goa and gone out together on multiple occasions. She was last seen with him on January 11, the day before her body was discovered. While Leonov admitted to administering drugs leading to her death, police and autopsy findings have cast doubt on murder allegations in her case, describing his broader confessions as exaggerated or inconsistent, possibly influenced by psychotropic substances or psychopathic tendencies.Goa police recovered photos of over 100 women (and a few men) from Leonov’s phone, raising questions about his patterns of interaction with women in the expatriate scene, often dubbed “Little Russia” in north Goa areas like Arambol and Morjim. Authorities noted his quick friendships but easy irritability, with past unreported assault incidents involving men.As of late January 2026, the probe remains active. Leonov was remanded in police custody for the confirmed murders of Kasthanova and Vaneeva under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder and wrongful restraint. Some of his other claims—such as killings of women who were later found alive abroad—have been debunked, leading police to treat additional confessions with caution. The Russian Embassy has been informed, and repatriation of the victims’ bodies is underway.
This incident highlights vulnerabilities in Goa’s tourist-heavy areas, where long-term foreign residents and transient workers interact amid drug use and financial strains. For the family of Mridusmita Saikia in Amguri, the uncertainty persists as authorities verify Leonov’s involvement. Updates from Goa police indicate the investigation continues to uncover the full truth behind these tragic deaths.
