Bengaluru police have arrested Aarav Hanoy (23), the prime suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Maya Gogoi Rekha, on November 29. Maya’s body was discovered with multiple stab wounds in a service apartment in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar on the morning of November 26. A native of Assam, Maya was a vlogger and an employee at a private firm in Koramangala. According to Bengaluru East police, Maya had checked into Hotel Royal Living in Indiranagar on November 23 with Aarav, who was also employed at a private company in Bengaluru.
“CCTV footage shows Aarav leaving the hotel room around 8:30 am on November 26 carrying a backpack,” D Devaraj, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), had said. Police said that Aarav carried a knife in his bag when entering the hotel and ordered a nylon rope during his stay.
The murder is suspected to have occurred between November 24 and 25. Maya’s body bore multiple stab wounds, with a fatal injury to her chest.
The crime came to light when hotel staff, failing to receive a response to repeated knocks, reviewed CCTV footage and saw Aarav leaving. They then entered the room with a spare key and discovered Maya’s body.
Maya resided in Hoodi with her sister and cousin. She had reportedly been in contact with Aarav, who hails from Kerala, for several months. After the murder, Aarav switched off his phone and went into hiding.
Police have not revealed further details about the case or the motive behind the murder.