MAPUSA
The Calangute Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the murder of Deodita Fernandes, a 64-year-old Goan-origin spinster holding Portuguese nationality.
The suspects were apprehended late Saturday night while attempting to withdraw money from an ATM near the Anjuna petrol pump, leading police to believe that financial gain was the primary motive behind the crime.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Akhib Shaukat Khalif, a native of Ratnagiri, and Nikhil Chandrakant Raje, originally from Pune but residing in Mapusa. Both suspects worked as brokers and were known to the victim, who owned a flat in Naikavaddo, Calangute.
According to police, the two had been assisting Fernandes in renting out her flat for Rs 25,000 per month.
The investigation began when police noticed suspicious withdrawals of large sums of money from Fernandes' bank account following her death.
Senior police officials confirmed that the duo had already withdrawn Rs 2 lakh through a cheque transaction before being caught at the ATM with the victim's debit card.
"Both suspects were aware that Fernandes was a spinster with significant financial resources due to her Portuguese nationality. They admitted to the crime during interrogation, indicating that their motive was to siphon off her money," a senior police officer disclosed.
Fernandes' body was discovered in the dining room of her flat on the third floor of the Benson building in Naikavaddo early Friday morning.
The building was undergoing renovation, and Fernandes had visited the site on Thursday to oversee the work.
A post-mortem report later confirmed that she had been strangled to death.
The arrests were made after the police traced the suspicious bank transactions to the accused.
Their capture marks a significant breakthrough in the case, shedding light on the premeditated nature of the crime.
The Calangute Police continue to investigate the full extent of the suspects' involvement and whether any other individuals were complicit in the crime.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, with residents expressing concern over the safety of vulnerable individuals living alone.
