'Borrowed Rs 300 to buy karikkin shake and poison'; Aishwarya's last meeting with relative

VIZHINJAM: Another woman who attempted suicide in pain over illegally giving away 70 sovereigns of gold from a private financial institution died on Monday. Rajeev's wife, Aishwarya (32), died yesterday morning while undergoing treatment. She was a resident of 'Rajarajeev Sadanam' in Chavadinada, Venganoor. Anju (28), a native of Venniyour, died on Saturday. The two were employees of the financial institution and close friends. They attempted suicide together on the 30th.

Aishwarya was an employee of the Amaravila branch of a financial institution called Surya Finance. Anju worked in the Vizhinjam branch. After being duped of money, the two bought a Karikkin shake from a shop in Theatre Junction on the 30th and went to Avaduthura beach in Kovalam. The duo mixed the drink with poison and consumed it. Kannaki (7) is Aishwarya's only daughter

The accused Sindhukumari met Aishwarya and Anju when they were working at the Amaravila branch. The accused had bought the gold that customers had pawned at Surya Finance, saying that they could deposit it in KSFE at a low interest rate. Pressure piled on the two young women after they allowed the gold to be taken away without taking any documents from the accused. When they met the accused a week before attempting suicide, Sindhukumari said she would not care to return it since there is no proof that she took the gold away. When the young woman said that they had no other option but to commit suicide, Sindhukumari heedlessly remarked, "Go and do that”.

Aishwarya's relative, Shubha, admitted knowing all about the incident but feared the chances of the two committing suicide if she talked about the matter with others. When Aishwarya and Anju reached home on the afternoon of the 30th, both their faces were filled with angst. Aishwarya said nothing but asked for Rs 300 from Shubha before leaving. Later, while she was undergoing treatment in the hospital, Shubha said that Aishwarya told her that she had used this money to buy karikkin shake and poison.