A man was arrested by the Goa police in Bengaluru in connection with the alleged sexual assault and murder of celebrity perfumer Monika Ghurde, reported The Times of India.

Confirming the arrests, Goa Director General of Police Muktesh Chander said that the suspect had allegedly stolen Ghurde’s ATM card and cell phone.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta told reporters that suspect Raj Kumar, hailing from Punjab, was picked up from Bengaluru after he tried to withdraw money from an ATM card belonging to the 39-year-old late on Saturday night.

The police are still investigating if any jewellery has been stolen. The investigators are also scanning through the CCTV footage.

Police are expected to release more details about Kumar's alleged role in the murder at a media briefing expected to be held later on Sunday evening.

The 39-year-old’s naked body was found with her hands and legs tied to the bed in her rented flat close to Goa’s Calangute beach on Thursday night. The body was discovered by the maid on Friday morning.

She and her husband reported lived separately but in the same area.

According to Hindustan Times, the maid who reported to work the next morning, called Ghurde’s brother after nobody responded to the doorbell. Ghurde’s brother called on her phone and when she didn’t answer asked the neighbour to open the house with the spare key that they had.

North Goa superintendent of police Umesh Gaonkar said that the death was because of "asphyxia due to compression of mouth and neck", reported Firstpost.

According to the website, the post-mortem report suggested that there were marks found on her private parts.  Doctors at Goa Medical College and Hospital have not confirmed sexual assault. Viscera and swab will be sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad for analysis.

(With inputs from IANS)