Police said the incident took place last night when the woman identified as Hunorine was with her eight-year-old grand daughter in the house which she had taken on lease.
The deceased was staying in Puducherry for the last 20 years, while her two adopted children were residing in France.
Her estranged husband was also away in France, police said, adding, the incident came to light today when the grand daughter found the woman lying in a pool of blood in the living room of the house.
Three special teams had been constituted to crack the case, police said.
The woman's face was found smashed.It is suspected that a sharp-edged weapon could have been used to commit the crime.
Police said the valuables worn by the woman were intact.