Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jan 17: The investigation into the killing of two Russian citizens in Pernem has entered a more complex phase after the accused allegedly claimed responsibility for other murders, prompting fresh scrutiny by law enforcement agencies. Police officials said these assertions are yet to be substantiated and are currently under verification.

Investigators are exploring the possibility that the accused may be attempting to derail the probe by projecting himself as a serial offender. Senior officers stressed, however, that at present only two murder cases have been conclusively established.

Authorities said every statement made by the accused is being rigorously examined and matched against available evidence, including missing persons databases and past criminal records, to assess its credibility.

In a related development, the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court has remanded Russian national Aleksei Leonov to 14 days of police custody to facilitate further investigation.