Elderly woman found murdered in Mumbai flat

Mumbai: Body of a 57-year-old woman, wife of a merchant navy officer, was found bearing severe head injuries at her residence in suburban Dadar here, police said today.

The deceased, identified as Beleza Cardozo, was found lying in a pool of blood by her domestic maid yesterday at her home in Louis Court building at Shivaji Park, after being allegedly attacked with a spade, they said.

Police suspect that the carpenter hired recently by Beleza to renovate her house could be behind the alleged killing.

The victim's husband, Tom Cardozo, is in merchant navy and is presently at sea. Her other family members have been informed about the murder, police said.

Robbery seems to be motive behind the murder but police did not find anything scattered in the house while doing the spot panchnama, which is why only Beleza's husband can tell whether anything has been stolen from the house, said DCP (Zone V) Mahesh Patil.

 Beleza, who suffered severe head injuries, was declared dead on admission after she was rushed to hospital with the help of her neighbours after the incident came to light last noon when her maid saw her bleeding profusely inside the flat.

 A hunt has been launched to nab the carpenter who is absconding, said Patil.

 Police suspect that the accused might have made an unsuccessful attempt to open the safe inside the house.