T’puram: Vizhinjam police on Sunday arrested a 53-year-old woman accused of cheating two employees of a private finance company by misappropriating gold ornaments entrusted to her, a fraud that investigators say pushed the women into crippling debt and led to last week’s suicide attempt in which one of them died.The accused, Sindhu Kumari of Venganoor, was arrested from a relative’s house at Machel in Malayinkeezhu. During a search of her residence, police seized fake visiting cards and bill books allegedly used in the fraud. Police said nearly 10 more complaints were received after news of her arrest emerged.According to police, Sindhu earlier operated a gold finance business and gradually gained the confidence of employees working in private financial institutions. She allegedly convinced them to hand over gold ornaments pledged by customers, claiming she could pledge the jewellery with financial institutions at lower interest rates. After initially returning the ornaments to establish credibility, she allegedly began selling the gold instead of returning it when customers sought to redeem their pledges.To avoid complaints from customers, the two employees allegedly borrowed money to purchase replacement ornaments matching the pledged weight. As their liabilities mounted beyond their means, they allegedly decided to end their lives.Police said Anju, 28, of Venniyoor who died during treatment on Saturday, had allegedly entrusted around 20 sovereigns of gold to the accused. Her colleague Aishwarya, who remains under treatment at govt medical college hospital, allegedly handed over around 50 sovereigns. During questioning, the women told investigators that they gave the gold to the accused for sale.Police also found that the accused allegedly disposed of the ornaments through another finance establishment in Kovalam. Police said Sindhu already faces two cheating cases at Kovalam police station related to fake gold pledging and another cheating case at Malayinkeezhu police station.The suicide attempt occurred on June 30, when the two women allegedly mixed poison with a drink purchased from a juice shop in Vizhinjam. Believing it to be food poisoning, family members initially sought treatment at two private hospitals, delaying specialised care. They were later shifted to MCH, where Anju succumbed.Police said the victims repeatedly contacted the accused seeking the return of the gold. In their final message sent before consuming poison, they allegedly blamed her for driving them to the extreme step. Police will move the court next week seeking custody of the accused for detailed interrogation.
