One more employee of a private gold loan company, who allegedly attempted suicide after a fraud involving around 70 sovereigns of gold, died while undergoing treatment.

Aiswarya (34), a native of Venganoor, succumbed at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Monday morning. She, along with another employee, Anju, had allegedly consumed poison at Kovalam beach on June 30. Anju, a native of Venniyoor, died on Saturday. 

The Vizhinjam police have arrested Sindhu Kumari (53) in connection with the case. She was taken into custody on Sunday and has been remanded in judicial custody.

According to the police, the two employees had handed over gold ornaments belonging to a customer to Sindhu Kumari to be pledged for immediate cash. When they later sought the ornaments back, she told them that the gold had been sold.

Distressed over the loss of the customer's gold, the two women allegedly consumed poison mixed with fruit juice purchased from an eatery at Kovalam beach. The incident came to light after they were found unconscious and were rushed to hospital.

Police are investigating whether the ornaments were actually pledged or sold and are examining Sindhu Kumari's financial transactions. Vizhinjam police told Onmanorama that all aspects of the case, including the circumstances that led to the suicide attempt, were being probed. Further investigation, including forensic procedures, was underway.