A 32-year-old woman, who was involved in a gold pawn fraud case that duped several people in Vizhinjam, succumbed while undergoing treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital in Kerala on Monday following poisoning in an alleged suicide bid.

Aishwarya, who hailed from Venganoor, died two days after her colleague Anju, who was also part of the purported racket, died in a similar manner. Both the deceased were employed at a private financial institution operating at Nellivila in Venganoor.

According to the police, the two employees allegedly misappropriated 70 sovereigns of gold, which had been pawned by regular customers. The investigation revealed that they diverted the gold to the prime accused, Sindhu Kumari of Panangode. While Anju reportedly handed over 20 sovereigns, Aishwarya allegedly contributed 50 sovereigns of gold to Sindhu, who assured to pledge the jewellery at other financial institutions at lower interest rates to fetch profits.

While the accused initially returned the ornaments promptly, she later purportedly sold the valuables despite the customers seeking to reclaim their pawned gold jewellery. As the situation spiralled out of control, the employees desperately requested Sindhu to return the gold.

However, the accused reportedly refused to return the gold and claimed that there was no written proof that she had received the gold from them. Realising they were trapped and amid severe public humiliation, Aishwarya and Anju attempted suicide on June 30.

Sindhu, who purportedly attempted to flee the country, was apprehended by the Vizhinjam police late Saturday. The police suspect Sindhu is a habitual offender with a history of involvement in multiple financial fraud cases. Besides, the police have received nearly 10 fresh complaints against her since her arrest.

(Suicide prevention helpline: DISHA: 1056, 0471-2552056)