Thrissur: Two women have been arrested for allegedly cheating a 70-year-old woman in Kerala’s Thrissur district by frightening her with claims of a ‘serpent curse’ and taking away her gold ornaments and cash.

Anthikad police identified the accused as Sujatha, 28, in Padinjare Vemballur, and Roja, 43, a native of Pappinivattom who is currently residing in Padinjare Vemballur.

The two women allegedly visited the house of Swarnalatha, 70, at Puthenkulam in Kanjany around 1.20pm on August 6. They reportedly approached her on the pretext of selling herbal oil.

According to police, the women told Swarnalatha that the place where her house stood was affected by a ‘serpent curse’. They allegedly went on to frighten her by claiming that her second son would die of a snakebite within two days unless the supposed curse was removed.

The accused allegedly then told her that the curse could be appeased through a ritual involving a golden snake’s egg and a stone made of gold.

Believing their claims, Swarnalatha allegedly handed over around six-and-a-half sovereigns of gold ornaments. The jewellery included ornaments belonging to her and a chain belonging to her eldest daughter-in-law.

She also allegedly gave them ₹6,500 in cash for the purported ritual.

Family realised alleged cheating after women left

The total value of the gold and cash taken from the woman was estimated at ₹6.75 lakh, police said.

The family reportedly realised that Swarnalatha had been cheated only after the two women left the house. A complaint was subsequently filed at Anthikad police station.

Police began investigating the complaint and traced the two women. They were later arrested in connection with the case.

48 grams of gold recovered

During the investigation, police recovered 48 grams of the gold from a jewellery shop in Chentrappinni.

The accused had allegedly sold the gold at the shop, police said.

After completing the necessary procedures, the two women were produced before a court and remanded in custody.