A woman allegedly strangled her six-year-old son to death on Tuesday as she could not afford the expenses for his medical treatment, following which she was arrested, police said.

Savitri Tipanna, 27, allegedly strangled her son, Devraj, at their residence in suburban Chembur in Mumbai. The boy was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, they said.

Police said they suspected Savitri’s role behind the murder after noticing marks round his neck. During interrogation, she confessed to the crime.

Savitri was facing financial hardship and she could not afford the expenses for treatment of Devraj who was suffering from epileptic seizures and needed hospitalisation, they said, adding her alcoholic husband had died a long time back.

She has been booked under section 302 (murder) of IPC, police said .