Man from Eilat Charged with Murdering Grandfather’s Caregiver in Jerusalem

Aviaor Zaken, 31, from Eilat, was charged on Friday with the murder of Rajiv Acharya, an Indian caregiver employed to assist Zaken's grandfather in Jerusalem. The prosecution requested the Jerusalem District Court to detain Zaken until the conclusion of legal proceedings. According to the indictment filed by attorney Jenny Avni from the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office, Zaken visited his grandparents’ home about three weeks ago for lunch. Acharya, who lived there as the caregiver, went to rest after the meal. Zaken then entered Acharya’s room and, during a conversation, decided to kill him. He allegedly stabbed Acharya multiple times in the neck, chest, ear, and nose with a sharp object, intending to cause death. Acharya struggled and cried out for help. When Zaken’s grandmother asked about the noises, Zaken falsely claimed they came from the television. Acharya attempted to escape to the living room but collapsed and died shortly after from severe blood loss. Zaken lied to his grandparents, saying Acharya had committed suicide. While Acharya was bleeding, Zaken moved the bloodied rug and the victim’s body to avoid staining the floor, changed his shirt, washed his hands, and left the house after kissing his grandparents goodbye. He took the blood-stained shirt and the weapon with him. The indictment accuses Zaken of intentional murder. Attorney Avni commented on the tragedy, emphasizing that Acharya had come to Israel to work far from his family and was killed violently in the home where he was supposed to feel safe. She condemned Zaken’s cold-blooded behavior and expressed condolences to the victim’s family. The investigation was conducted by the Jerusalem District Police Central Unit (YAMAR).