A 65-year-old woman Saraswathi was found dead and the body was in a decomposed condition at her house in Visalakshi Nagar in Kovaipudur on Wednesday evening.
Jewellery on her person and cash totalling Rs. 17,000 kept in the almirah are missing, making the police conclude that it was a murder for gain.
According to the police, the woman was living alone for the past eight years and was in a rented house in the area. The victim’s son was a software engineer in Mumbai and her daughter working as a lecture in a private college was living in the same area.
On Sunday, there was a function in the family for her son's engagement. After the function, she was not seen. On suspicion, her son-in-law who runs a shop in Kuniamuthur broke open the door and entered the house to find Saraswathi lying dead.
He informed his wife and the police.
According to family members, ear studs, bangles and gold chain on her person was missing besides Rs. 17,000 kept in the almirah. The entire house remained ransacked.
Police suspect the accused to have made the victim die of suffocation or strangulation, as there was no injury on the body.
Forensic experts and sniffer dogs were pressed into service.
A special team has been formed and a manhunt has been launched for the accused.
