Krishnaveni (50), Assistant Professor of Botany at Government Arts College, Tiruvannamalai, was found murdered at her house here.
Ms. Krishnaveni, who was separated from her husband, was living alone in a house in Veenus Nagar, Navakkarai. On Tuesday she failed to respond to repeated calls from her maternal home.
Finding something amiss, her relatives came home to check on her towards the evening.
Cut marks of sickle
They found the body of Ms. Krishnaveni which bore cut marks of sickle. Eleven sovereigns of jewellery that she had been wearing was reportedly missing.
But the almirahs where jewellery had been kept were left untouched.
Police were not clear about the motive of the murder. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tamil Chandran, visited the spot on Wednesday. Further investigation is on.