Gold fraud case: Police suspect Sindhu is part of larger racket; property scam also exposed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police are investigating whether Sindhukumari, a native of Panangode and the prime accused in the Vizhinjam gold loan fraud case, was part of a larger racket. Investigators are currently examining her financial transactions and trying to trace the source of her income. Following the alleged fraud and the deaths of two employees of a gold loan firm, more people have been approaching the police with complaints against her.

A family has alleged that Sindhu cheated them of 41 sovereigns of gold. Several others have also filed complaints, accusing her of fraud involving five to ten sovereigns of gold each. Apart from allegedly cheating people of their gold, police said she had also collected property title deeds from several individuals and pledged them to obtain loans. According to local residents, Sindhu was a regular visitor to the gold loan firm.

Police said that two employees of the gold loan firm, Anju and Aishwarya, had handed over 70 sovereigns of gold to Sindhu for pledging without the knowledge of the firm's owner. When they were unable to return the gold to its rightful owners, the two allegedly attempted suicide by consuming poison mixed in Sharjah juice on June 30. Anju died on Saturday afternoon, while Aishwarya succumbed on Sunday morning. Police said both had left behind a note accusing Sindhu before taking the extreme step.

Vizhinjam police took Sindhu into custody on Sunday from a relative's house in Malayinkeezhu. Police also recovered fake visiting cards and a bill book during a raid conducted at her house. Police said Sindhu already faces two cheating cases registered at the Kovalam Police Station for allegedly pledging imitation jewellery as genuine gold, besides another cheating case registered at the Malayinkeezhu Police Station.