New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) An 80-year-old woman was found smothered to death inside her house in east Delhi Tuesday by her domestic maid, police said.

The deceased, identified as Sarojini Barthwal, was found dead inside her house at 88-B, Pocket-4, Phase-I in Mayur Vihar around 11.30 a.m. Tuesday by the domestic help. Blood was oozing from her nose and some scratch marks were visible on her face when the domestic help found her.

"The domestic help informed the neighbours who made a call to police," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Prabhakar.

"Prima-facie, it seems to be a robbery-cum-murder case as the whole house was found ransacked. The exact amount of money stolen has not been confirmed yet. A case regarding the incident has been registered and the hunt is on to nab the culprits," added the official.

According to police, the deceased had been living alone since the death of her husband, B.S. Barthwal. Her only son, identified as Hemendra Singh Barthwal lives in Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh and has been working with the British High Commission as a political adviser.